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Watson Pharma Buys Actavis in a Marriage of Generic Drugmakers
Apr 26, 2012

Watson Pharmaceuticals of the US acquired privately held Actavis Group at a price of about $5.6 billion upfront, plus earn-out provisions based on 2012 results. Both companies are large generic drug manufacturers, and together they will constitute the third biggest generic drug company in the world. Although neither company has a huge presence in China – only about 2% of Watson’s revenues currently come from Asia – the acquisition will add to Watson’s presence in both China and India. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: WPI)

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Fidelity Targets Healthcare for Half of New $250 Million China Fund
Apr 16, 2012

Fidelity Investments announced a new $250 million China VC fund, half of which will be devoted to healthcare investments. The company expects its three current China VC funds - which together represent about $450 million in capital - will be fully invested by the end of 2012. The new fund will be denominated in RMB, giving Fidelity more possibilities for investment targets. Fidelity has been active in China for sixteen years. More details....

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Zhejiang Hisun Pharma Files for US Approval to Start Clinical Trial of Statin
Apr 6, 2012

Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical, a China company with numerous cross-border relationships, has successfully filed an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA in the US to begin clinical trials of an innovative cholesterol-lowering statin. Frontage Labs, a, CRO with operations in China and the US, completed the work on behalf of Hisun. Earlier this year, Hisun announced a $545 million generic drug JV with Pfizer. More details....

Stock Symbols: (SHA: 600267) (NYSE: PFE)

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Anaphore of San Diego Buys RuiYi, a Shanghai Drug Developer
Mar 23, 2012

Anaphore, a San Diego biotech startup, has acquired Shanghai-based RuiYi Inc., a company with expertise in G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs have been the most productive field for small-molecule drugs over the past years. Anaphore said the RuiYi acquisition will help it extend the success of GPCRs into biologic drugs. According to Anaphore, RuiYi also gives Anaphore a much-needed entry to China’s drug development scene. More details....

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Bayer Seeks $3.3 Billion of China Revenues by 2015
Mar 14, 2012

Bayer Healthcare’s long term sales goal is to triple its 2010 China revenues by 2015, bringing them up to $3.3 billion. Bayer is already one of the top five pharmas in China. To accomplish its goals in China, Bayer employed an audacious strategy for a big pharma: it transferred global authority for its primary care business from Berlin to Beijing. More details....

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Newsummit Biopharma Files for $80 Million NYSE IPO
Feb 25, 2012

Newsummit Biopharma, a Shanghai-based CRO offering pre-clinical drug development services, filed to raise up to $80 million in a New York Stock Exchange IPO. The company has offices in five technology parks around China, and is headquartered in Shanghai's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. Newsummit aims to be a one-stop solution for bringing a drug candidate or medical device through an IND (or NDA) filing, after the initial work on the product has been completed. The company uses a network of 99 service providers for most tasks. More details....

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Pfizer and Zhejiang Hisun to Invest $545 Million in Generic Drug JV
Feb 20, 2012

Pfizer and Zhejiang Hisun Pharma will put $545 million of assets into their branded generics JV. The investment will consist of off-patent drugs, manufacturing sites and cash. Hisun will contribute $295 million of these assets for a 51% stake in the JV, while Pfizer’s portion will be $250 million for the remaining 49%. The two companies signed a MOU to set up the JV in June 2011, and they have now made progress by approving a framework agreement and releasing the financial commitments of each party. More details....

Stock Symbols: (NYSE: PFE) (SHA: 600267)

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China Excitement at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
Jan 14, 2012

The annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare extravaganza, held last week in San Francisco, was buzzing with excitement about China. Optimism was running high and, best of all, participants were discussing real deals. It was the second year the conference included a China-specific track, giving 15 China-centered life science companies a chance to present their stories. The room was often filled to its 200-seat capacity, forcing some attendees to stand at the back and even more to peer in through the glass doors at the back of the room. The strong sense of positive energy evident throughout J.P. Morgan this year was even more apparent in the China Reception following the company presentations. More details....

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China Announces Major Program for Biotechnology 2010-2020
Jan 5, 2012

To establish itself in the global front rank of biotech innovation, China has issued the National Program on Bioscience Technology Development 2010-2020. The program, which was issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, establishes a series of ambitious, very specific goals for developing a world-class biotech industry in China. As a starter, China wants to produce three to five top biotech scientists with international reputations and Nobel Prize potential by 2020. More details....

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Vivo Ventures Closes $375 Million US-China Life Science Fund
Jan 3, 2012

Vivo Ventures, a California healthcare investment firm that invests in both US and China life science companies, closed its seventh fund, Vivo Ventures VII, at $375 million. In the US, the fund will target US companies in the later stage of development. Its China investments will seek enterprises that are producing revenues. More details....

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