China related Press Releases

Lux Research Launches China BioPharma Service, Expands Broader Life Sciences Coverage

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:21:03 -0500

Leading technology scouting and market analysis firm focuses its sights on the world’s fastest-growing biopharmaceutical marketplace, and raises coverage of strategic formulation and delivery technologies.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lux Research announced today the launch of its new China BioPharma Intelligence service, extending its coverage to a strategic market that poses both partnering opportunities and competitive threats to established western biopharma companies.

Comprising a talented team of well-networked, native analysts based in Shanghai, Singapore and Boston, the service will provide Lux Research’s global clients with ongoing technology scouting and market intelligence from one of the world’s fastest-growing biopharmaceutical markets and the world’s most dynamic economy.

“China Rising is an apt description of the entry and presence of China on the world biopharmaceutical stage. China has made biotechnology and healthcare a major funding prerogative in its long-term R&D strategy,” said Kevin Pang, Lux Research Director. “With the 2009-2011 period seeing a cumulative CNY2.6 billion (US$411 million) invested across 223 projects, China’s spending on basic research funding has risen 30-fold over the past 15 years.”

The China BioPharma Intelligence service will cover the broad landscape of emerging innovative technologies and companies, delivering keen insights into market dynamics and trends, while cutting through the complex regulatory and government-driven environment. It will provide regular, detailed guidance on a wide variety of drug and device development technologies ranging from stem cells to molecular diagnostics and sensors, medical devices, genomics and proteomics, novel formulation and therapeutics.

Although Lux Research officially just launched its specialized China BioPharma Service, it has been scouting China’s biopharmaceutical landscape for years, and analyzing emerging developments to uncover future trends. Among its key insights:

China is aggressively investing. The Asian giant plans to raise the pharmaceutical sector investment target 10-fold to CNY27.2 billion (US$4.3 billion), through an innovative public-private investment partnership, adding further momentum to the growth of biopharma in China. These new initiatives through the National Science Technology Major Program will help China transform into a global pharmaceutical powerhouse — shifting focus from simple drug and generics manufacturing to early-stage R&D. China will also produce planned innovation clusters and home-grown technology platforms to create a self-sustaining local market.
Partnerships will be key for western companies. China’s rapidly maturing technology companies are forcing a dramatic change in business models for western companies seeking to do business in the world’s most populous country. Western firms can no longer consider China as a mere low-cost manufacturing base but need to find ways to partner with Chinese firms, and innovate rapidly, to gain access to the local market.
Rising China threatens western dominance. China’s rising biopharmaceutical companies mean an imminent challenge to the traditional western dominance of the biopharmaceutical industry. This will happen via export of Chinese technologies and solutions to U.S. and European markets.

Clients subscribing to the Lux China BioPharma Intelligence Service receive ongoing research on market and technology trends, continuous technology scouting reports in the weekly Lux Research China BioPharma Journal and quarterly State of the Market Reports. They will also receive results of analyses from the Lux Innovation Grid, a robust framework that identifies and ranks new and emerging companies, and benefit from on-demand access to Lux Research analysts.

Lux Research also announced the expansion of its Targeted Delivery service, focusing on the strategic role that formulation and delivery technologies play in drug development strategy and therapeutic franchise value. These innovative technologies are being used to expand indications, extend patent life and breathe new life into difficult-to-deliver drugs. The new demands on formulation and delivery also include packaging and delivering biologics, increasing drug potency and half-life, and greater targeting accuracy. The new Lux Research Formulation and Delivery Intelligence service will also examine the increased competition from Asia, particularly China.

About Lux Research

Lux Research provides strategic advice and on-going intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.

CONTACT:

Lux Research, Inc.
Carole Jacques, 617-502-5314
carole.jacques@luxresearchinc.com

KEYWORDS: United States Asia Pacific North America China Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Research Science

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TPI Begins Construction of Qionglai Facility (QLF)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:20:48 -0500

CHENGDU, China, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Tianyin Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. (NYSE Amex: TPI), a pharmaceutical company that specializes in patented biopharmaceutical, modernized traditional Chinese medicine (mTCM), branded generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) today announced that the Company has started its Qionglai Facility (QLF) project following the initial planning period. The Phase I of QLF project will be the construction of the pre-extraction plant which is targeted for completion by the end of 2012 calendar year.

The pre-extraction is the first step of the manufacturing process of modernized traditional Chinese medicine (mTCM). The pre-extraction facility will conduct initial processing of TCM raw material, separation using alcohol or water precipitation, filtration, centrifugation, concentration and purification of TCM pharmaceutical ingredients which will be further processed for the production of mTCM at the formulation facility.

About Pre-extraction and formulation plant development at QLF

In preparation for the new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards stipulated by the PRC government in early 2011, TPI initiated the process of optimizing the manufacturing facilities and production lines in compliance with the new GMP standards by 2013. Concurrently, the city of Chengdu has re-designated various industrial parks of nearby counties for particular industries such as automobile, biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals and chemical engineering for individual locations. As a consequence, TPI's manufacturing facility at the Longquan district, east of Chengdu, which is designated for automotive industry, is scheduled to be relocated to Qionglai city, south of Chengdu, which is designated for pharmaceutical industry. The QLF is approximately 18 miles from the Company's recently completed Jiangchuan macrolide (JCM) facility. The proposed relocation project also includes our TCM pre-extraction plant which is located near the center of the city of Chengdu surrounded by rapidly expanding residential area.

The QLF is estimated to be 80 mu or 53,000 m2. Both pre-extraction plant and the formulation plant are to be relocated. The combined QLF plant, designed and constructed according to the latest GMP standards, is expected to relieve the current capacity saturation at TPI's facilities. The re-location and construction cost is estimated at $25 million for Phase I which will expand the current capacity by 30%. For Phase II QLF, an additional $10 million may be employed to double the current capacity by 2013.

About TPI

Headquartered at Chengdu, China, TPI is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of patented biopharmaceutical, mTCM, branded generics and API. TPI currently manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of 58 products, 24 of which are listed in the highly selective national medicine reimbursement list, 7 are included in the essential drug list of China. TPI's pipeline targets various high incidence healthcare indications. TPI has an extensive nationwide distribution network with a sales force of 730 sales representatives out of totaled 1,365 employees.

For more information about TPI, please visit: http://www.tianyinpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The Statements which are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, development of new products, government approval processes, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, please visit: http://www.tianyinpharma.com, or email ir@tpi.asia

Tel: +86-28-8551-6696 (Chengdu, China)
+86-134-3655-0011 (China)

Address:
Tianyin Pharmaceutical
23rd Floor, Unionsun Yangkuo Plaza
No. 2, Block 3, South Renmin Road
Chengdu, 610041
China

SOURCE Tianyin Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

Asia Pacific Orthopedic Biomaterials Market to Grow to $1.3 Billion by 2016

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:20:54 -0500

Chinese Market to See Particularly Strong Growth in Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplementation Treatments, According to Millennium Research Group

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the Asia Pacific orthopedic biomaterials market, comprising hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplementation and bone graft substitutes (BGS), will grow to nearly $1.3 billion by 2016. This growth will be fueled by the rapidly expanding elderly population, a demographic with a high incidence of orthopedic maladies.

HA viscosupplementation is the market’s largest segment and will total more than $1 billion by 2016. There will be significant variations in this segment’s development between different countries in the region. Growth in Japan, Taiwan and Australia will be driven largely by the introduction of 1- and 3-injection treatments, which carry a significantly higher per-treatment cost but are more convenient for patients than 5-injection treatments. Overall, the number of 1- and 3-injection treatments in the Asia Pacific will grow at a rate of nearly 36 percent per year from 2011 through 2016.

The HA viscosupplementation market in China will grow particularly robustly, averaging 13 percent per year, driven by a large patient pool finally gaining access to advanced medical treatment as healthcare reform reaches China’s rural regions.

“Domestic competitors accounted for the majority of the Chinese HA viscosupplementation market share in 2011,” said MRG Analyst Brady Baker. “Products with the strongest brand recognition in China are 5-injection treatments, such as Shandong Bausch & Lomb Freda Pharmaceutical’s Sofast, and Seikagaku’s SUPARTZ. As a result, physicians and patients still regard this form of treatment as the gold-standard. Although 3-injection products such as Genzyme Biosurgery’s Synvisc have been on the Chinese market since 1997, they have seen little traction. This situation will persist through 2016.”

However, significant cuts to reimbursement in the bone graft substitute segment will represent an obstacle to revenue growth in this segment across most of the Asia Pacific region. The increasing adoption of premium-priced growth factors will help support revenues. BioMimetic Therapeutics will launch its Augment Bone Graft product in Australia in 2012 and Korea Bone Bank expects to be on the market with its Rafugen BMP2 DBM Gel in South Korea in 2014, the latter marking only the third bone morphogenetic protein product available worldwide.

Millennium Research Group’s Asia Pacific Markets for Orthopedic Biomaterials 2012 report includes procedure, unit, average selling price and revenue information, along with market drivers and limiters and competitive landscape for HA viscosupplementation in Australia, China (Mainland China and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and BGS in Australia, Japan and South Korea.

About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (www.MRG.net), a Decision Resources Group company (www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com), is the global authority on medical technology market intelligence and the leading provider of strategic information to the healthcare sector. The company provides specialized industry expertise through multiclient market research, ongoing Marketrack™ projects, customer loyalty tracking, facility-level procedure forecasting, and customized solutions.

About Decision Resources Group

Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information, and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

All company, brand or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT:

Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort, 781-993-2597
ccomfort@dresources.com
or
Millennium Research Group
Alex Jablokow, 617-599-8613
ajablokow@mrg.net

KEYWORDS: United States Asia Pacific North America Canada New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Pharmaceutical General Health

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China Emerging as an Innovation Hub for Formulation and Delivery

Mark Hollmer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:55:09 -0500

China Emerging as an Innovation Hub for Formulation and Delivery

The rise of Chinese start-ups and the frenzied forays of Western companies into the world's fastest-growing biopharmaceutical market point to a paradigm change in the industry, says Lux Research.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A clutch of promising Chinese companies in the formulation and delivery (F/D) market underlines the emergence of the Asian giant as a center for biopharma innovation and entrepreneurship, even as Western pharmaceutical companies continue to enjoy technological and business advantages, according to a Lux Research report titled, "The Expanding Formulation and Delivery Market in China."

"The Expanding Formulation and Delivery Market in China"

The rise of Chinese companies is most evident in delivery devices, a subsector in which Lepu and Royal Fornia scored rather high in Lux Research's analysis. Both companies made it into the "Dominant" quadrant on the Lux Innovation Grid, a proprietary analytical framework to evaluate companies - and these Chinese leaders are ready to challenge Western counterparts in the global market, the report said.

"We see early evidence of Chinese biopharma companies looking west for opportunities. Many of these companies are headed up by "Hai Gui," or returning overseas Chinese trained in the West and comfortable with the idea of competing with western companies," said Kevin Pang, Lux Research Director and the lead author of the report.

"Obtaining drug, product, and service approval and market validation first in China prior to exporting, especially when many companies are mastering the GMP process, is the lower cost, faster profitability approach many are taking," he added.

Using the Lux Innovation Grid to analyze and compare China-based F/D developers with their global peers, Lux analysts found that Chinese firms are rapidly gaining on the West. Among their findings:

Delivery device maker Lepu has global ambitions. Lepu Medical Technology uses its expertise in nanomaterials to make interventional medical devices such as drug eluting coronary stents and other cardiology products. With 2011 revenues of $120 million, Lepu earns a "Positive" ranking - but it still lags Surmodics, a U.S. firm that earns a "Strong Positive."

Royal Fornia's cost advantage makes it a formidable competitor. Royal Fornia Medical Equipment, which is rated "Positive," makes insulin pumps with computer-aided perfusion systems, enabling real-time monitoring and insulin dosage optimization. It enjoys a 30% market share in China and can parlay its 60% cost advantage to expand into other drug dosage optimization systems and other global markets.

Western companies marching to China: Merck has acquired Beijing Skywing for biologics production, AstraZeneca purchased Guangdong Beikang for injectables using traditional Chinese medicine as a platform, and Novartis bought Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceuticals for expanded vaccine development. These moves and more illustrated the frenzied bids by Western companies to get a slice of the booming Chinese market.

The report, titled "The Expanding Formulation and Delivery Market in China," is part of the Lux Research Formulation and Delivery Intelligence service.

About Lux Research

Lux Research, Inc.
Carole Jacques, 617-502-5314
carole.jacques@luxresearchinc.com

Life Technologies Partners With DaAn Gene to Develop and Commercialize Molecular Diagnostic Assays in China

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:20:30 -0500

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that it has signed an agreement with DaAn Gene, a leading Chinese company in molecular in-vitro diagnostics (IVD), to form Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostics, a joint venture diagnostics business in China. The move is expected to contribute to the early diagnosis of oncology, infectious diseases and genetic diseases. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostics with its headquarters in Guangzhou, will develop and commercialize a portfolio of molecular diagnostic assays using Life Technologies' 3500Dx Capillary Electrophoresis instrument and the Big Dye® Cycle Sequencing technologies, focused on IVD assays for oncology, infectious and genetic diseases. The joint venture allows both companies to expand the use of Capillary Electrophoresis technology into the Chinese clinical diagnostics market.

"This joint venture strengthens the foundation of our clinical diagnostics business and represents a big leap forward for our business in China," said Gregory Lucier, Chairman and CEO of Life Technologies. "As a leading biotechnology company, we are at the forefront of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. This joint venture and its products will play a key role in disease prevention and therapy selection and is complementary to the Chinese government's 12th five-year plan to promote national economic and social development."

"The joint venture will help us offer leading medical diagnostic technologies with cost-effective solutions to Chinese healthcare professionals," said Dr. Siddhartha Kadia, President of Life Technologies, Greater China. "This approach leverages our expertise in platform development and DaAn's expertise in regulated markets with kit development and commercialization."

"Twenty years ago, the cooperation between DaAn and Applied Biosystems brought PCR technology into China's molecular diagnostic field, positioning China with the most potential to become the world's largest PCR market for clinical diagnostics. Today, the cooperation with Life Technologies introduces DaAn's products to the global marketplace, while bringing Life's superior technologies into China's IVD market. Together, we are working toward becoming a premium IVD product supplier that has global impact," said Zhou Xinyu, CEO of DaAn Gene.

Life Technologies' 3500Dx instrument is a capillary-based Sanger Sequencer intended for use in the analysis of human DNA for the detection of genetic changes that may lead to disease presence or improved response to various therapies. Life Technologies' Sanger Sequencers supplied the technology that powered the Human Genome Project. Sanger instruments remain the sequencing gold-standard for accuracy, reliability and ease of use. The 3500Dx Genetic Analyzer was approved by China State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) for IVD diagnostic use in China in October 2011.

About DaAn Gene Co., Ltd.
DaAn Gene Co., Ltd. of Sun Yat-sen University (SZSE: 002030) is China's premier bio-tech enterprise focusing on decoding genetic life to assure human health. DaAn is dedicated to providing all-encompassing molecular diagnostic solutions from R&D of reagents and instruments, to manufacturing, to sales, and even to providing service through our nationwide medical independent lab. It also hosts the base for the National High-tech Industrialization Demonstration Project. Taking "Innovative Technology, Quality First, Preserving Integrity, and Service Foremost" as their mantra, DaAn Gene has successfully acquired the Certificate of ISO13485:2003 Registration, and subsequently it has obtained CE-Certificates for several varieties of diagnostic kits, and acquiring an annual reagent production capacity of 20 million tests. As a leader in molecular biology techniques, especially in the development and application of genetic diagnosis related products, DaAn has become the top choice for various national, provincial, and city health related projects. In 20 years of development, DaAn Gene has grown to employ over 800 people, including more than 100 doctors, graduates and overseas scientists. As of today, DaAn Gene has set up a distribution network covering all of mainland China, and the sales extending to other countries. For more information please visit: http://www.daangene.com/

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance the fields of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics. The company manufactures both molecular diagnostic and research use only products. Life Technologies' industry-leading brands are found in nearly every life sciences lab in the world and include innovative instrument systems under the Applied Biosystems and Ion Torrent names, as well as, the broadest range of reagents with its Invitrogen, Gibco, Ambion, Molecular Probes and Taqman products. Life Technologies had sales of $3.6 billion in 2010, has a workforce of approximately 11,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses one of the largest intellectual property estates in the life sciences industry, with approximately 4,000 patents and exclusive licenses. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies' anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Media Contacts:
Vivian Lv
Corporate Communications, Greater China
Life Technologies
86-10-84461901
Vivian.lv@lifetech.com

Mauricio Minotta
Corporate Communications, United States
760-929-2456
Mauricio.minotta@lifetech.com

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/MM49339LOGO)

SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation

Aeras and CNBG Sign Agreement on Tuberculosis Vaccine R&D

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:20:44 -0500

Agreement Positions China as a Critical Player in the TB Vaccine Field

ROCKVILLE, Md. and BEIJING, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The global fight against the tuberculosis epidemic receives a boost today as Aeras and the China National Biotec Group (CNBG) announce that they have reached final agreement to jointly develop new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. The agreement between the leading non-profit developer of TB vaccine candidates and the largest biotechnology corporation in China signals a commitment by both to engage and strengthen the role of China in the fight against one of the world's deadliest infectious disease killers.

Xiaoming Yang, President of CNBG, said of the agreement: "CNBG has a great deal of expertise and energy to invest in this partnership. Not only is TB a public health crisis of the developing world, it is also a priority health issue here in China. We look forward to working with our counterparts at Aeras to develop new TB vaccines that will help stop tuberculosis in all corners of the world."

Multiple research institutes operating under the umbrella of CNBG will engage with Aeras on a strategy focused on the joint development, manufacturing and distribution of affordable new TB vaccines for use globally. The agreement spans all aspects of TB vaccine development – from vaccine discovery to pre-clinical research to clinical research to manufacturing – and positions CNBG as a major emerging player in the TB vaccine field.

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the only currently-licensed TB vaccine, does not prevent pulmonary TB, the most common form of the disease. As part of this collaboration, Aeras will license its recombinant BCG (rBCG) platform – which aims to improve upon the current TB vaccine – and other technologies to CNBG. The groups will jointly develop novel TB vaccines using the rBCG platform and other technologies provided by Aeras or CNBG's research institutes. A variety of candidate booster vaccines will be engineered to match the new constructs with a goal to create more efficacious and longer-lasting protection against TB disease.

A keystone of this broad collaboration is the implementation of joint product development teams to develop and execute comprehensive plans for both the research and clinical development of TB vaccines and the design, construction and validation of a vaccine process development and manufacturing facility in China, which will receive financial support and technical expertise provided by Aeras.

"The synergy created by bringing together our scientific and manufacturing expertise could have a substantial impact on efforts to advance innovative candidates in TB vaccine development," said Jim Connolly, President and CEO of Aeras. "We look forward to working with the largest biotech corporation in a country with the skills, resources and TB disease burden to play a major role in overcoming the complex challenges of TB vaccine R&D."

TB is a major public health priority in China, where there are more than one million new TB cases every year. Globally, the TB epidemic is responsible for the deaths of 1.4 million people annually.

About Aeras
Aeras (www.aeras.org) is a non-profit product development organization dedicated to the development of effective TB vaccines and biologics to prevent TB across all age groups in an affordable and sustainable manner. Aeras utilizes its broad capabilities and technologies in collaboration with numerous partners and stakeholders to support the development of vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals to address TB and other significant public health needs of underserved populations. Aeras has invented or supported the development of six TB vaccine candidates to date, five of which are currently undergoing Phase I and Phase II clinical testing in Africa, Asia and North America. Aeras receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, other private foundations and various governments. Aeras is based in Rockville, Maryland, USA – where it operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing and laboratory facility – and Cape Town, South Africa.

About CNBG
CNBG (www.cnbg.com.cn) is a company limited by shares, the controlling shareholder of which is China's National Pharmaceutical Corporation (Sinopharm). CNBG has 10 subsidiaries and is the largest biotech corporation in China engaged in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of biological products. CNBG manufactures more than 200 kinds of biological products (with approximately 100 GMP product lines) for prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic use, including all the vaccines in China's EPI programme, and maintains an 80% share of the public sector in China. In 2010, the annual output of CNBG reached 730 million doses, and it maintains one of the broadest portfolios of vaccine products in the world.

SOURCE Aeras

For the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, the Vast Majority of Surveyed Physicians in China and South Korea Indicate That Ther

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:20:53 -0500

Interviewed South Korean Payers Expect Victoza and Bydureon To Be Reimbursed Under National Health Insurance, According to a New Report from Decision Resources

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that in both China and South Korea, the vast majority of surveyed physicians indicate a need for GLP-1 analogues other than Amylin/Eli Lilly’s Byetta and by the end of 2013, Byetta will lose patient share to later-launched GLP-1 analogues in both countries.

Decision Resources’ new Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum report entitled Physician and Payer Perspectives on the Market for Injectable Antidiabetics in China and South Korea finds that surveyed Chinese endocrinologists who expect to prescribe GLP-1 analogues over the next two years estimate that more than half of their patients will receive Novo Nordisk’s Victoza. This anticipated favored status in China will be driven by Victoza’s improved clinical efficacy and once daily dosing schedule.

Byetta, the first GLP-1 analogue to launch in China, became available before the 2009 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) published, but was too late for inclusion. Byetta has, however, been added to the Provincial Reimbursement Drug Lists of nine provinces in 2010. Reimbursement of Byetta in selected provinces provides essential data to help the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security assess the feasibility of Byetta’s inclusion on the NRDL.

“Interviewed payers report that the health insurance fund is under increasing pressure, and express concern that reimbursement of costly GLP-1 analogues would pose substantial financial burden,” said Decision Resources Analyst Jing Wu. “However, in light of the NRDL inclusion of pegylated interferons for hepatitis C virus, we expect Byetta and Victoza to achieve inclusion in the 2013 version of the NRDL, albeit with severe restrictions on eligibility for reimbursement.”

The report also finds that interviewed South Korean payers expect Victoza and Amylin/Eli Lilly/Alkermes’s Bydureon to be reimbursed under the National Health Insurance. However, premium pricing and injectable delivery are the biggest hurdles these agents must overcome if South Korean uptake of the GLP-1 analogues is to increase.

About Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum

Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum is the industry’s only syndicated primary market research product that includes insights from both physicians and payers to get a true sense of how both parties shape key emerging markets. Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum offers analysis of China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico. Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum enables drug developers to understand how payer policy actually impacts prescribing practices in the real world. By drawing on insights from physicians and payers, Emerging Markets Physician & Payer Forum pinpoints key market access levers and barriers that highlight what will drive and/or restrict a brand’s performance, so that drug developers can invest in the most appropriate market access solutions.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources Group company.

About Decision Resources Group

Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT:

Decision Resources
Christopher Comfort, 781-993-2597
ccomfort@dresources.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Fitness & Nutrition Pharmaceutical Professional Services Insurance Research Diabetes Science General Health

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China Sky One Medical to Jointly Launch Adult Stem Cell Research Enterprise

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:21:07 -0500

HARBIN, China, Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Sky One Medical, Inc. ("China Sky One Medical" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: CSKI), a leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Harbin Tian Di Ren Medical Science and Technology Company ("TDR"), signed an agreement (the "Agreement") to jointly set up a new company, Harbin Tian Xin Biological Engineering Ltd.

Harbin Tian Xin Biological Engineering Ltd. is being organized to perform the storage of umbilical cord stem cells. It is also to perform the clinical applications of bone marrow stem cells, intercord mesenchymal stem cells and other human stem cells.

"As we have been involved in this area of research for the past several years, we are optimistic as to the potential of the stem cell storage and application sector. We are pleased to attract outside investors to this new venture to strengthen our capability in terms of technology and capital," commented Mr. Yan-Qing Liu, Chairman and CEO of China Sky One Medical. "We expect that Harbin Tian Xin Biological Engineering Ltd. will be formally put into operation in the first quarter of 2012 and new products and services might be introduced into the market as early as year-end 2012." Mr. Liu added.

On December, 12, 2011, TDR entered into an Agreement with three parties, the No. Four Hospital Associated with Harbin Medical Science University, Harbin Zheng Yuan Construction Group and Mr. Xiao-wei Zhang, pursuant to which they will jointly set up the new company for a total capital commitment of RMB 230.0 million (approximately around $36.3 million). TDR shall invest RMB 90.0 (approximately around $14.2 million) for an ownership stake of 39%. The four parties agreed in the Agreement that 65% of the committed capital is payable within 15 days upon execution of the Agreement, and the remaining 35% is payable within six months after initial payment is made. In addition, TDR shall have the right to appoint Harbin Tian Xin's Chairman and General Manager.

About China Sky One Medical, Inc.

China Sky One Medical, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a holding company. The Company engages in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical, medicinal and diagnostic products. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Harbin Tian Di Ren Medical Science and Technology Company, Harbin First Bio-Engineering Company Limited, Heilongjiang Tianlong Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Peng Lai Jin Chuang Pharmaceutical Company, the Company manufactures and distributes over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, which make up its major revenue source. For more information, visit http://www.cski.com.cn.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain of the statements made in the press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward- looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. Such statements typically involve risks and uncertainties and may include financial projections or information regarding the Company's business development. Actual results could differ materially from the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions in The People's Republic of China, variations in cash flow, reliance on collaborative retail partners and on new product development, variations in new product development, risks associated with rapid technological change, the potential of introduced or undetected flaws and defects in products, consumer acceptance of new products to be launched and other risk factors detailed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Investor Relations Contact:

China Sky One Medical	CCG Investor Relations
Hongyu Pan, CFO	Crocker Coulson, President
Email: ir@cski.com.cn	Tel: +1-646-213-1915
	Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
	Website: www.ccgirasia.com

	Mabel Zhang, Vice President
	Tel: +1-310-954-1353
	Email: mabel.zhang@ccgir.com

SOURCE China Sky One Medical, Inc.

Simcere and Bristol-Myers Squibb Enter Innovative Partnership to Develop Cardiovascular Compound

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:20:43 -0500

PRINCETON, NJ and NANJING, China, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR), a leading pharmaceutical company in China, today announced that the companies have expanded the strategic partnership formed last year to include a second collaboration in a different therapeutic area. The companies agreed to co-develop BMS-795311, Bristol-Myers Squibb's preclinical small molecule inhibitor of the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP). Inhibiting CETP could potentially raise HDL (good cholesterol) levels and help prevent cardiovascular disease. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the delivery of clinical Phase IIa proof-of-concept by leveraging the complementary strengths of a premier Chinese pharmaceutical company and a global biopharmaceutical company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Simcere will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize BMS-795311 in China while Bristol-Myers Squibb will retain exclusive rights in all other markets. The companies will together determine the strategic development plan to explore the potential of BMS-795311 to treat and prevent progression of cardiovascular disease. Simcere will run and fund initial development work. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"We reached another important milestone in our partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb by expanding the collaboration to a second program. It further demonstrates our commitment and capabilities in building a sustainable development platform with our strategic partners. We are excited to continue the momentum and leverage our combined strengths in product development." commented Dr. Peng Wang, chief scientific officer, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group.

"Simcere was the first company with which Bristol-Myers Squibb created a partnership under our Oyster Strategy to seed companies in key markets with promising investigational medicines of continued interest from our early pipeline," said Francis Cuss, M.D., senior vice president, Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "That partnership, focused on an oncology compound, has gone extremely well and we are excited to expand our relationship to include a second collaboration in another therapeutic area. Working together we are building on the strengths of both organizations to develop potential medicines and help patients."

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.

About Simcere Pharmaceutical Group

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE:SCR, Simcere) is a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China. Simcere concentrates its research and development efforts on the treatment of diseases with high incidence and/or mortality rates and for which there is a clear demand for more effective therapy, including cancer, strokes, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and pain. For more information about Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, please visit http://www.simcere.com.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the compound described in this release will move from exploratory development into full product development, that clinical trials of this compound will support a regulatory filing, or that the compound will receive regulatory approval or become a commercially successful product. Forward-looking statements in the press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Simcere Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions. These forward looking statements are based upon management's current views and expectations with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Furthermore, these statements are, by their nature, subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Simcere's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Simcere does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Contacts

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Media:
Jennifer Fron Mauer (United States)
Tel: 609-252-6579
Email: jennifer.mauer@bms.com;

Stella Ling, (China)
Tel: +86-21-2321-8218
Email: stella.ling@bms.com

Investors:
John Elicker
Tel: 609-252-4611
Email: john.elicker@bms.com

Simcere

Kate Tellier,
Brunswick Group (United States)
Tel: 212-333-3810

Yehong Zhang,
Simcere (Nanjing)
Tel: +86-25-8556-6666 ext. 8811

Yue Yu,
Brunswick Group (Beijing)
Tel: +86-10-5960-8600

Joseph Lo Chi-Lun,
Brunswick Group (Hong Kong)
Tel: +852-3512-5000

ir@simcere.com

SOURCE Simcere Pharmaceutical Group

ICON Acquires BeijingWits Medical Consulting Ltd

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:20:36 -0500

Acquisition Strengthens ICON’s Presence & Capabilities in China

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ICON plc, (NASDAQ: ICLR; ISIN: IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that it has agreed, subject to closing conditions, to acquire BeijingWits Medical Consulting Ltd., a leading CRO in China. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2012.

BeijingWits offers full-service clinical development capabilities and has a strong track record in clinical trial execution in China. The company is a renowned expert in Chinese regulatory processes and a leading advocate of ICH GCP in China. In addition to boosting ICON’s service capabilities in the region, BeijingWits will also strengthen ICON’s presence through the addition of over 100 highly qualified and experienced professionals in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Hong Kong.

“The acquisition of BeijingWits is a further step in our on-going expansion in China and the greater Asia-Pacific region,” commented Ciaran Murray, CEO, ICON plc. “An increasing number of our global clients are looking to undertake research in China and local companies are also placing more emphasis on R&D, which has resulted in growing demand for local clinical trial expertise. BeijingWits brings to ICON a strong leadership team, experienced staff and good relationships with local investigator sites and regulatory bodies.”

“We are delighted to be joining with ICON,” commented Dr. Yan Bin Xie, General Manager and founder of BeijingWits Medical Consulting Company. “The clinical research market in China is at an exciting stage and combining our local knowledge with ICON’s global infrastructure and experience will offer clients a formula for successful clinical development. ICON has strong growth plans for China and Asia-Pacific and we look forward to playing a leading role in helping them achieve these goals.”

About Beijing Wits Medical Consulting Company

Beijing Wits Medical Consulting Company was founded in 1997. The company provides services to global and local pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies focusing on Phase I to IV Clinical studies. Beijing Wits currently has more than 100 employees, operating from 6 offices in China.

About ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON currently has approximately 8,300 employees, operating from 77 locations in 39 countries.

Further information is available at www.iconplc.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "expect," "strategy" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations that the transaction will close and the timing of the closing, including our belief that the conditions to closing will be satisfied; and our belief that, upon completion of the transaction, BeijingWits will strengthen our presence and will allow us to further our growth plans in China. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risk that the conditions to closing the transaction are not satisfied and, therefore, that the transaction does not close on a timely basis, or at all; strategic actions, including our success in integrating BeijingWits; general economic and financial conditions; the extent to which we are successful in implementing our strategy, gaining new, long-term relationships with customers and retaining existing ones; the risk of competition on our industry; developments and changes in laws and regulations; and such other factors as discussed in Part I, Item 3 “Risk Factors” in our Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

ICON/ICLR-G

CONTACT:

ICON Investors
Investor Relations
1-888-381-7923
or
Sam Farthing, VP Investor Relations
+ 353 –1-291-2000
or
ICON Media Contacts
Asia-Pacific:
Ms. Crystal Chang (ICON)
Tel: +852-3511-6914
or
Rest of World:
Rosie Allan /Genevieve Tuck
at Weber Shandwick
Tel: +44-020-7067-0000

KEYWORDS: Europe Asia Pacific China Ireland

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Medical Devices Pharmaceutical

MEDIA:

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