Emerging Markets
GeneTech made headlines in 2004 when it
became the first company worldwide to
commercialise a gene therapy. The product,
Gendicine, is a p53 gene-based therapy for
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
based on a recombinant adenoviral vector.
The programme was a beneficiary of the 863
scheme, although observers outside China
questioned the clinical development and
regulatory process for the therapy.
Other notable examples include the
Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, which has
commercialised a patent-protected drug
Endu (recombinant human endostatin) for
non-small cell lung cancer, and Shanghai’s
Sunway Biotech, which is developing
genetically engineered oncolytic adenoviruses
for head and neck (including nasopharyngeal)
cancer and other malignancies.
China at the US life science investment bank have taken,” she said. Shanghai-based So what of the future? Hutchison’s Dr Du
Burrill & Co. Addressing a Japan biotech Hutchison is developing a series of products is of the view that “the government learns
meeting in October, she also highlighted in markets outside China, including through quickly, has good technical expertise and is
moves by some pharma multinationals to set alliances with Lilly and Merck Serono. ready to support all phases of development”.
up China-specific venture funds to invest in Is China going to produce a Pfizer or a Dr Zhao was similarly positive, saying: “I am
and gain access to emerging technology and Novartis, a Lipitor or a Glivec? There are still pretty confident China will propel the
products. very few companies with novel early clinical industry into one with more innovative
Dr Wu told Scrip that government support stage products and there is a long way to go. products within the next decade, if not
such as the 11.5 plan and IP changes would But many of the factors are in place, and the sooner.”
also be key to developing China’s research far-reaching government support schemes According to an informal prediction by
potential, although she noted that most firms have already helped several small enterprises members of the BayHelix Group, an
remained at an early stage. to develop some innovative products. international network of Chinese life science
The other shift that might encourage the
business leaders, there could be at least 300
development of novel therapeutics is that in
R&D-based firms in China by 2015, when
China’s disease patterns. With increasing
Is China going to produce a
$400 million a year in venture capital could
affluence, these are already moving away
Pfi zer or a Novartis, a Lipitor or
be going into the sector and three or four
from infections to lifestyle disorders, such as
innovative drugs and 10-20 biosimilars might
a Glivec?
diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular
have reached the market.
conditions, which are responsible for driving
Obviously the Chinese government cannot
much of the innovation in the west. Some Vaccines is an area where there has been
continue to subsidise the industry indefinitely
estimates predict Asia’s diabetic population an early emergence of expertise, helped by
and will be looking for it to stand on its own
will surge to 185 million people by 2030, the relative ease of developing such products
two feet in due course. Such bullish
creating a massive doorstep market. compared with conventional chemical drugs
projections suggest that venture capital could
Cancer types with a high incidence in Asia, and biologics. “China is already the biggest
play an increasingly important role, with
such as liver cancer (from high rates of user of vaccines worldwide but urgently
product and licensing revenues helping to
hepatitis infections) and nasopharyngeal needs to upgrade its production technology
sustain development in the longer term.
cancer, could provide other therapeutic and innovative capability, particularly for
Innovation is already beginning to occur in
opportunities for newly innovative firms. diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and encephalitis,”
China’s homegrown electronics and
Other factors include China’s crackdown observed Dr Linda Zhao, president and CEO
automobile sectors, where international
on drug regulatory standards in the wake of of the US-based China consultancy Draco
acquisitions have also played their part in
corruption scandals over the past few years. Healthcare.
providing access to new technology, products
The move to a more science-based The Chinese government had made
and markets.
regulatory process closer to international significant investments in vaccine research
Given the current state of the industry and
norms may help raise the capabilities of and production via various science and
all the challenges of pharma R&D, it is
those companies able and willing to comply. technology and disease-related funds,
undoubtedly going to take time for China to
This in turn may reassure potential providers Dr Zhao noted, with Yuan200 million set
develop its innovative capabilities. But given
of venture capital and facilitate the aside for vaccine R&D under the national
the mix of positive factors and the overall
development of products outside China. “863” high-tech fund, for example.
pace of change in the country, things could
Some believe this last factor will be crucial Among the success stories in the field is
move more quickly than many expect.
to determining the innovative future of Sinovac Biotech, which has developed an
China’s pharma industry. Dr Samantha Du, H5N1 bird flu vaccine with government
CEO of Hutchison MediPharma, told Scrip support and is working on others for various Ian Haydock is Scrip’s Asia
that much of the research going on in China infections including severe acute respiratory editor.
was still geared towards domestic market syndrome.
needs. “The sector needs to look China’s research in the biotech area is also
internationally, which is the approach we gaining attention. Shenzhen SiBiono
www.scripnews.com/supplements Scrip 100
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