Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) committed up to $100 million to expand its Beijing R&D center (see story). As much as $40 million of that will go to build new labs for diabetes research. The company plans to have the new labs finished late next year and occupy them in 2012.

Roche (VX: ROG) will cut 4,800 jobs globally over the next two years as part of its long-awaited downsizing plan, called "Operation Excellence" (see story). Most of the jobs – a total of 3,550 – will affect its US workforce. However, in China, the Swiss biopharma plans to increase its Chinese headcount by 25% this year, adding 750 new hires to its present level of 3,000 employees.

In a new report, Monitor Group predicted that China will become the global leader in life science discovery and innovation by 2020 (see story). The report asserts that China offers an antidote to global pharma’s major current problems: declining revenues and an uninspiring pipeline.

Guizhou Bailing Group Pharmaceutical (SHEX: 002424) will invest 750 million RMB ($113 million) to build an industrial park in Guizhou Province, devoted to traditional medicine products of the Miao minority (see story). The industrial park, which will cover 333,335 square meters, will be given preferential policies by the municipal government.

Sichuan Kelun Pharma (SHEX: 002422) will acquire an 85% stake in Zhejiang Guojing Pharma for 246.5 million RMB ($37 million) (see story). Guojing Pharma is known for its infusion products, which is also Kelun’s specialty, though Kelun calls itself an IV company. In May, Kelun staged a $735 million IPO on the Shenzhen exchange, and now some of the proceeds are helping to consolidate China’s highly diversified pharma landscape

Lansen Pharmaceutical (HKEX: 0503) will purchase 20% of Zhejiang Starry Pharmaceutical for 160 million RMB ($24 million) (see story). Starry, a bulk pharmaceutical and intermediate company, is the largest manufacturer of the contrast agent iohexol in the PRC. For the year ended 31 December 2009, Starry’s profit after taxation was $9 million, and it listed a net asset value of $30 million.

Andon Health Co. (SHEX: 002432) will spend $8 million to set up a US subsidiary to conduct R&D and distribute its products (see story). Andon, a medical device manufacturer located in Tianjin, is the third largest manufacture of electrical blood pressure monitors in the world. The company exports its products to over 50 countries around the globe.

China's Ministry of Health plans a crackdown on bribery of medical personnel by drug and medical device manufacturers (see story). Doctors who are found to be taking kickbacks will be punished by losing their licenses, if the case is severe. And manufacturers will be prohibited from selling to a particular hospital for two years, once bribery is discovered.

Sihuan Pharma (HKEX: 0460) has struck a deal to distribute alprostadil injection, a vasodilator, for Benxi Leilong Pharma (see story). Sihuan will have exclusive rights for 30 years to distribute the drug to its network of almost 10,000 hospitals in China. According to Sihuan, alprostadil injection is one of the best-selling cardio-cerebral vascular drugs in China. The drug is a natural fit for Sihuan, which already makes and distributes a portfolio of 14 cardio-cerebral vascular drugs.

Disclosure: none.