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CONTENTS
COMPANY NEWS
105 SurroMed and Affymetrix to Set Up R&D
Facilities in Singapore
106 Ranbaxy to Quit Joint Venture with
Eli Lilly
106 Japanese Firm Starts Clinical Trial of
HIV Drug
107 AlphaRx and PanBiotic to Form Strategic
Alliance
107 Collaborative Research Between Roche
and China on Genes Linked to Diabetes
107 New Bht300 million Plant for Surgical
Products to be Set Up in Thailand
108 MicroMedical Scores New Goals
108 Entigen and University of Sydney Win
Award for Collaborative R&D
108 PanBio to List on Australian Stock
Exchange
POLICIES & REGULATIONS
109 Japan Drafts New Forestry Bill
109 Taiwan Legislators Say Biotech Budget
Too Small
110 New Safety Standards for Australian Food
110 Wasps vs Thrips — Biological Pest
Control in NZ
110 Indian Pharma Firms to Benefit from
New Drug Policy
RESEARCH NEWS
111 Chinese Scientists Find Genes for
Hypertension
111 Taiwanese Scientists Support Radiopharmaceutical Research
111 Anti-microbial Peptide Gene Cloned for
Genetic Medicine
111 Japanese Scientists Find Local Delicacy
Prevents Dioxin Accumulation
112 Taiwan Focuses on Research to Find
Liver Cancer Genes
112 New Low-cost Technology for Wheat
Cultivation
112 Supercomputing R&D Center Set Up in
Singapore
113 Australia Establishes New Health Institute
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
113 Coalition Formed to Ensure Better Use of
Chinese Herbs in US
113 Joint Venture Set Up to Commercialize
Traditional Mongolian Medicine
GENERAL INFORMATION & STATISTICS
114 “Golden Rice” to Reach Indian Market in
5 to 6 Years
114 China’s Major Breakthrough in
Biotechnology
114 China Prioritizes Biotech
114 Sino-German’s Six-Year Program to Curb
Agriculture Pollution
115 Agriculture Fair to Attract Foreign
Investment
115 Biotech and Biomedical Network Set Up
in Northern Australia
115 Australian Association Releases Business
Plan
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
106
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For the new plant, investments of around US$25 million will be pumped in.
The plant is expected to be ready in 18 months and the company is in the final
stages of negotiations with the Economic Development Board (EDB).
About 200 000 GeneChips were sold last year and with the advent of biotech,
Affymetrix expects 400 000 to be sold this year. Although GeneChips are now
mostly used for basic research, experts predict that biochips such as these will be
used more widely in applications such as clinical trials and diagnosis in the
future.
Ranbaxy to Quit Joint Venture with Eli
Lilly
India’s leading pharmaceutical company, Ranbaxy Laboratories, has decided
to sell its 50 percent stake to Eli Lilly in its joint venture company with Eli Lilly —
Ranbaxy Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly is acquiring the stake for US$17 million. This will
increase its shareholding in the joint venture company to 100 percent.
Eli Lilly is willing to acquire the stake subject to government clearances. The
company hopes that the move will enable it to position itself as one of the top
companies in India. It also hopes to establish itself in local research and development.
Eli Lilly will continue to manufacture bulk drugs and formulations that are
commercially, technically and economically viable in India.
According to an Eli Lilly spokesperson, the company has identified clinical
research as one of its main areas of focus, and India would serve as a major
research center in the future.
Eli Lilly is planning to increase its research investments in India significantly,
and has some very promising drugs in the pipeline. These drugs are mainly for the
treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and sepsis. Clinical trials for
these drugs will be conducted in India based on protocols set by the Indian health
ministry.
As for Ranbaxy, it decided on the move in order to invest funds into its own
companies and exit from businesses which it views as not strategic.
Japanese Firm Starts Clinical Trial of
HIV Drug
Japan’s Zeria Pharmaceutical Company has recently started clinical trials of a
drug used to combat the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). The clinical trials
are being conducted in the US following approval from the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
Zeria Pharmaceutical, which is based in Tokyo, said that the drug is currently
used in Japan under the name “Answer 20.” Preliminary research conducted at the
University of Texas shows that the drug can stop the HIV from invading other cells.
In cancer patients, the drug has been shown to limit the drop of leukocytes following
radiotherapy.
A spokesperson for the company said that the mechanism of action of Answer
20 is different from that of existing anti-AIDS drugs. He said that combined use of
Answer 20 with existing anti-AIDS drug would provide a more effective treatment
for those suffering from AIDS.
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