Roche deal gives new anti-HCV to China start-up
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Roche is showing a great deal of faith in its partners in China: it has put the development of its Phase II protease inhibitor for hepatitis C, danoprevir, in the Chinese market in the hands of Ascletis, a two-year-old Hangzhou based start-up backed by a real estate billionaire. China is one of Roche's main growth markets – it recorded 20% sales growth there in the first quarter, with sales of some oncology products up nearly 40%.