Localisation is vital in the life sciences industry as it ensures that medical products, research, and communication are adapted to meet the linguistic, cultural, and regulatory needs of diverse markets.

It enhances accessibility, compliance, and patient engagement by translating and tailoring content such as product labels, clinical trial documentation, and marketing materials.

Localisation also helps address regional epidemiological trends and cultural nuances, fostering trust and improving health outcomes globally. By integrating localisation early in the development process, life sciences companies can streamline regulatory approvals and expand their reach effectively

Localisation is important for life sciences organisations because it ensures their content is accessible, accurate, and culturally appropriate for diverse global markets.

Whether it’s clinical trial documentation, medical device instructions, or pharmaceutical labeling, precise localisation enables compliance with regional regulations, reduces misunderstandings, and enhances patient safety.

It also fosters trust by bridging language barriers, improving communication with healthcare professionals and patients alike. Ultimately, localisation empowers organisations to expand internationally, connect with global audiences, and contribute to better health outcomes.

In the life sciences industry, a wide range of content needs to be localised to ensure compliance, accuracy, and effective communication across global markets. Examples include:

Regulatory documents: clinical trial protocols, informed consent forms, product labels, and patient information leaflets must comply with local laws and be understandable to target audiences.

Medical device instructions: user manuals, safety warnings, and technical documents need precise translation to ensure safe and proper usage.

Pharmaceutical content: packaging, dosage instructions, marketing materials, and pharmacovigilance reports require localisation to meet legal and cultural standards.

Clinical trial materials: patient-reported outcomes (PROs), case report forms (CRFs), and recruitment documents must be adapted for diverse populations.

Marketing and educational content: websites, brochures, video tutorials, and training materials for healthcare professionals and patients need to resonate culturally.

Localisation improves safety in the life sciences industry by ensuring information is accurately translated and culturally adapted for its intended audience. Here’s how it makes a difference:

Patient safety: localised content such as medication labels, dosage instructions, and user manuals for medical devices minimises the risk of misinterpretation, helping patients use products correctly and avoid harm.

Regulatory compliance: proper localisation ensures that clinical trial documents and regulatory submissions meet the requirements of regional authorities, reducing delays and errors that could jeopardise safety.

Effective communication: by adapting content to the local language and cultural context, localisation improves clarity and understanding among healthcare professionals, patients, and regulators, fostering better outcomes and adherence to safety protocols.

Risk mitigation: accurate translation of risk warnings and adverse event reporting processes helps healthcare providers identify and address issues early, safeguarding public health.

The languages to prioritise in the life sciences industry depend on the target markets and regulatory requirements. Here are some languages to consider:

English, German, French, Chinese (simplified), Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian, among others.

Localisation plans should align with business goals and regulatory landscapes, as some countries mandate the use of their official languages for product labeling and clinical documentation.

Ensuring quality in life sciences translations involves a meticulous, multi-step process:

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): working with translators who have expertise in medicine, pharmaceuticals, or regulatory requirements ensures accurate use of technical terminology.

Linguistic validation: employing techniques like forward and back translation, accompanied by reviews and cognitive debriefing, ensures clarity.

Quality assurance: implementing multiple layers of proofreading and review by qualified editors guarantees accuracy and consistency.

Regulatory compliance: adhering to local regulations and standards, like ISO 17100 for translation services, minimises risk and ensures compliance.

Technology integration: utilising translation memory tools and glossaries ensures consistency across projects while saving time.

Comprehensive testing: particularly for eCOA materials, in-context testing confirms functionality and usability in local environments

Yes, we can prioritise urgent requests in life sciences to meet your timelines in different languages.

We maintain strict confidentiality in technical life sciences documents with NDAs, secure infrastructure, and adherence to privacy regulations.

Costs for life sciences localisation vary based on project scope, language pairs, content volume, and specific requirements. Contact us for a personalised quote.

Technology and AI are transforming life sciences localisation by streamlining processes and enhancing accuracy. Here are some examples:

Translation memory and glossaries: tech tools store previously translated terms and phrases, ensuring consistency across materials like clinical documents, user manuals, and marketing content.

AI-powered machine translation: advanced AI models provide quick and accurate translations, reducing turnaround times while maintaining high quality for large volumes of text.

Linguistic validation: AI assists in the validation process by identifying discrepancies, improving the reliability of clinical outcomes assessments (COA) and regulatory documents.

Automated quality control: tools with built-in quality checks detect errors, inconsistencies, and formatting issues, ensuring the highest standards for medical and pharmaceutical content.

Contextual localisation: AI algorithms analyse cultural nuances and adapt content to resonate with diverse target audiences, improving engagement and accessibility.

Integration with digital platforms: AI-driven technologies optimise content delivery across eCOA platforms, digital health apps, and interactive patient tools.

If you’re interested in receiving more information on our life sciences translation service, you can complete the form on this page, or chat with one of our sales representatives!