China biopharma is very different from its western counterparts, and for foreigners, its high rate of change further complicates the difficulty of understanding the sector (see story). That was the common theme that ran through four presentations at this week’s ChinaBio® Executive Workshop, “Leveraging China to Build a Global Biotech.” Each of the four presenters used their expertise to shed light on one facet of the world of China biopharma.

The purpose of the Workshop was to provide an overview of China biopharma. But for companies already involved in the sector, last week served as a time to solidify their relationships with cross-border deals.

PerkinElmer (NYSE: PKI) completed the acquisition of SYM-BIO Lifescience, a Shanghai company that produces diagnostic instruments and their reagents (see story). The price was $63.7 million (435 million RMB), paid in cash. The acquisition is a very good fit with PerkinElmer’s existing business. SYM-BIO Lifescience is a major supplier of diagnostics to China hospitals, with an emphasis on infectious diseases. This is complimentary to PerkinElmer’s portfolio of diagnostic devices, which specializes in prenatal and newborn screening.

Asia Pharmaceutical Group (Hainan) has received a 70 million RMB ($10 million) venture capital investment from Silicon Paradise Venture (Alliance Fund), based in Zhejiang Province (see story). Founded in 1991, Asia Pharmaceutical Group comprises 16 subsidiaries that produce pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, biotechnology and chemicals. Its best known product is Kuike, a leading brand of cold medicines. The company also has its own R&D operation.

Benitec Limited (ASX: BLT) and China-based Biomics Biotechnologies Co. have signed a binding agreement to collaborate on an RNA interference treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (see story). Benitec, an Australian biotechnology company, will contribute its proprietary DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) technology. Biomics of Nantong brings with it a variety of RNAi technologies.

Cleveland BioLabs (NSDQ: CBLI) has granted an exclusive China license for Protectan CBLB612, an investigational cancer drug, to Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co. (SHSE: 600267) (see story). In animal studies, the drug has been shown to stimulate hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and mobilization. Cleveland BioLabs says the drug shows promise as a treatment for the negative side-effects of chemotherapy.

In addition to the deals, product announcements figured in last week’s China biopharma news. China Sky One Medical (NSDQ: CSKI) (中国天字一号医药公司) has begun exporting its Pain Relief patch to Canada (see story). Because the product is based on a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, it did not have to undergo clinical trials before going on sale. The company said the first order was for 40,000 patches, which are now available in Vancouver. Eventually, China Sky One intends to broaden its distribution of the product throughout North America.

Tianyin Pharmaceutical (NYSE Amex: TPI) announced that four of its generic products are included in China's recently released Essential Drug List (EDL) (see story). They are: Azithromycin Dispersible Tablets, Simvastatin Tablets, Hugan Tablets and Xiao Yan Li Dan Capsules and Tablets. Tianyin thinks the EDL may cause revenues of the products to double in 2010 to $12 million.

And finally, American Oriental Bioengineering (NYSE: AOB) (广西博科药业) is adding a new laryngitis product to its portfolio of OTC traditional Chinese medicine offerings (see story). YuYeQingHuo Capsules (YYQH) are used to alleviate pain and inflammation related to laryngitis. The capsules will be manufactured by American Oriental’s Boke subsidiary.


Disclosure: none.

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