(December 9, 2009) Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (CPGJ) and its partner Shanghai Biomabs Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Biomabs) signed an agreement and Letter of Intent with EMS S.A., a prestigious Brazilian pharmaceutical manufacturer to collaborate between these two countries on the projects of biological medicine. The signing of the agreement marks one big step on the road of commercialization and globalization of Etanercept, a bio-medicine independently researched and developed by CPGJ. This also symbolizes, after the successful cooperation between Chinese and Brazilian pharmaceutical enterprises on anti-AIDS drugs, these companies are about to write a new chapter on bio-pharmaceuticals.

Dr.  José Gomes Temporão, the Minister of Ministry of Health of Brazil, Mr. Dirceu Bras Aparecido Barbano, the President Director of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANIVISA)  and Mr. Chengdong YI, Deputy Director of Shanghai FDA attended the signing ceremony.

Bio-medicines,  in particular monoclonal antibody drugs,  are known as "biological missile", because of strong specificity, proved efficacy, limited side effects, good safety and other advantages, have oriented the future of drug development. The Chinese government is also increasing emphasis on research, development and commercialization of antibody drugs. The 11th “Five-Year Plan” has included biomedical technology as one of the nine key technologies and issued a series of policies conducive to innovation of drugs. This fully demonstrates the Chinese government’s determination to support independent research, development and commercialization of bio-medicines.

For this reason, the National Development and Reform Commission has approved the establishment of the Antibody National Engineering Research Center of Antibody Medicines, providing a strong technical platform for CPGJ, Biomabs and other pharmaceutical companies, which enables such enterprises to achieve remarkable progress in a relatively short period of time. Etanercept, the first antibody drug to be co-developed with the prestigious Brazilian pharmaceutical manufacturer, is the fruit yielded from such enterprises like CPGJ and Biomabs.   “Today we are pleased to see that China’s monoclonal antibody drugs will benefit patients in other countries suffering from cancer and rheumatic diseases. This symbolizes that the research, development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody drugs in China have already walked in the frontier of bio-generics.” Mr. Chengdong YI, Deputy Director of Shanghai FDA  said at the ceremony.

The management of EMS S.A. stated; "The significance of this collaboration is not only to strengthen Chinese-Brazilian friendship and co-operative relationship, but also to enhance the commercial and technical exchanges between the pharmaceutical companies in these two countries. More importantly, the collaboration will quickly lower the medical burden on both the Brazilian government and the citizens’ shoulders, render the Brazilian people more alternative of more efficient and safer targeted therapies, thus improve both health level and quality of life of the nation. "