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Changchun BCHT Biotech Acquires Flu Vaccine Technology Feb 10, 2012: Changchun BCHT Biotechnology obtained an exclusive license for a live attenuated influenza (LIAV) vaccine technology from BioDiem, an Australian vaccine company. The license gives BCHT exclusive China rights to the technology for an egg-based production method in pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines. Although the license is limited to LAIV for private market vaccines, BCHT holds a second license to LAIV for China’s public market in China via a sub-license from the World Health Organization. More details....

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Takeda Sets Up China Division to Supervise Clinical Trials Feb 9, 2012: Takeda Pharma has established a new China division, Takeda Shanghai Development Center, which will be put in charge of the company’s clinical development projects in Asia. The TSDC will concentrate on general medicine in China and oncology for all of Asia. It will conduct clinical trials – increasing the emphasis on China – and it will also be given the task of deepening relationships with physicians and drug regulators. More details....

Stock Symbol: (TO: 4502)

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Shanghai Biochip Signs MOU with GeneNews of Canada Feb 7, 2012: Shanghai Biochip, also known as ShanghaiBio Corp.,signed an MOU with GeneNews Limited, a Canadian molecular diagnostics company. The agreement calls for GeneNews and SBC to set up a Sentinel Center for Personalized Medicine in China, based on GeneNews’ Sentinel technology. The Center will seek to co-develop and commercialize molecular diagnostic products. Also, SBC will gain non-exclusive rights to market and sell GeneNews' ColonSentry™ test in China. More details....

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Nanjing Pharma’s Weak Financials Spark Takeover Talk Feb 7, 2012: Nanjing Pharmaceutical, a company that makes and distributes pharmaceuticals, announced it will report a loss for 2011. The company blamed the loss on higher interest payments on its $387 million of debt. Nanjing Pharma is the largest drug distributor in China’s eastern provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Fujian. The combination of lower valuation and leading market position sparked speculation that one of China’s major drug distribution companies will make a bid for Nanjing Pharma. More details....

Stock Symbol: (SHA: 600713)

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Shanghai Pharma Acquires Second API Maker this Year Feb 6, 2012: Shanghai Pharmaceuticals will buy Changzhou Kony Pharm Co., a company that makes APIs for antivirals and cardiovascular drugs. Shanghai Pharma positioned the acquisition as mutually advantageous. It is also a way for Shanghai Pharma to put some of the $2 billion garnered from its Hong Kong IPO to work. Although the price was not disclosed, Kony Pharma was estimated to be worth about 300 million RMB ($47.6 million). . In January, Shanghai Pharma purchased a 51% share in Jinhe Bio-Technology, a company that specializes in APIs for cancer drugs. More details....

Stocik Symbol: (SHA: 601607; HK: 02607)

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Steve Yang: AstraZeneca in China Wants to Transform Pharma R&D Models Feb 3, 2012: Steve Yang, AstraZeneca’s high profile VP and Head of R&D for Asian and Emerging Markets, is setting an ambitious goal for the company’s China R&D operation: “We will try to innovate and transform how we do R&D,” said Yang in a McKinsey Quarterly interview. Because innovative pharma development is still new in China, “we are starting with a clean slate,” he added. “But that could be an opportunity,” given that established ways of doing drug R&D are not institutionalized, leaving China free to map its own path. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: AZN)

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Cardinal Health Plans $90 Million in China Acquisitions Feb 3, 2012: Cardinal Health, the US-based drug distributor, plans to make $90 million in China acquisitions to bolster its geographic coverage in mainland China. In addition, Cardinal said it is expanding its China product offerings to include medical products, lab equipment and other supplies. Earlier, Cardinal had announced a plan to make acquisitions, but it now seems to have made deals, though it hasn't released any specifics. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: CAH)

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AstraZeneca Pares 7,300 Jobs; Ups China Spending Feb 2, 2012: AstraZeneca announced another 7,300 layoffs, bringing its total to over 21,000 over the past few years. The latest round will affect staff counts in the US and Europe. Among other things, the cutbacks mean closing the company’s in-house neuroscience R&D facilities, eliminating 2,200 staff and leaving AstraZeneca with a virtual program in that disease area. At the same time, AstraZeneca is building a $200 million plant in Taizhou; it has bought a generic drug company in China; and it recently signed a $140 million oncology drug partnership with Hutchison MediPharma. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: AZN)

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Tasly and SemBioSys Report Progress on their China JV Feb 2, 2012: Tianjin Tasly Pharma and SemBioSys Genetics of Canada have received business licenses for their Tianjin-based JV, which is based on SemBioSys’ seed-based oilbody and genetic expression technology. Ultimately, the JV expects to use the technology to produce insulin for China and the rest of world. In the near-term, it will develop modernized TCM products and nutraceuticals. After that, the JV will turn its focus toward animal food additives. More details....

Stock Symbols: (SHA: 600535) (TSX: SBS)

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WuXi PharmaTech and ShangPharma Are M&A Targets: Bloomberg Feb 1, 2012: WuXi PharmaTech and ShangPharma are both attractive M&A targets, according to a Bloomberg News article. Both China CROs have higher profit margins than their US peers, and both are growing faster than US CROs. Nevertheless, their PE ratios are lower, making them value propositions for their US competitors. To gain perspective on the situation, Bloomberg quoted Greg Scott, ChinaBio®’s CEO, who said China’s CRO industry is healthy, with demand growing steadily. Both companies have the “ability to deliver a cost advantage while maintaining very high quality,” he added. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: WX) (NYSE: SHP)

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