China Biologic Products (China Biologic) entered into a research and development agreement with the Institute of Blood Transfusion (IBT) on September 11, 2009, to strengthen the company’s research and development capabilities and manufacturing processes. IBT is a division of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS).
China Biologic’s collaboration with IBT will include the use of IBT’s technology to enhance safe and efficient plasma collection, and increase the range of plasma-derivative products that can be manufactured by the company. The agreement also entitles China Biologic to utilise IBT’s platform technologies, including its recombinant protein therapeutics, monoclonal antibody technology and diagnostics.
China Biologic will provide partial funding, plasma, the use of its manufacturing facilities, and access to its research and development resources. IBT will provide specialised training and education to China Biologic’s research staff, and will procure additional funding from national and provincial funding bodies. In addition, China Biologic is entitled to the priority purchase rights to commercialise any new technologies or products that result from the collaboration.
Chao Ming Zhao, CEO of China Biologic, said: “We are committed to being a technology leader in the area of plasma-based pharmaceuticals and we constantly seek to improve our collection and manufacturing processes. China’s plasma-based industry is underpenetrated, partially due to the scarcity of investment in the research and development of new products, as compared to similar investment in more developed countries. We are pleased to enter into the research and development agreement with IBT, which we believe will enable us to leverage IBT’s advanced scientific resources to accelerate our development of new products and improve the efficiency of our operations.”