Sanofi-Aventis To Work With Chinese Experts In Cancer Stem-Cell Research
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
SHANGHAI - Sanofi-Aventis will expand its footprint in China by collaborating with Tianjin's Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital (IHBDH) in the field of cancer stem cells, the French drug maker announced Sept. 14
|
SHANGHAI - Sanofi-Aventis will expand its footprint in China by collaborating with Tianjin's Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital (IHBDH) in the field of cancer stem cells, the French drug maker announced Sept. 14. Under the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate to isolate acute myeloid leukemia stem cells and generate monoclonal antibodies against these cells. Such antibodies could serve as vectors to study the cells and may become the basis for new therapeutic strategies. Sanofi currently has at least two AML therapies in development, the anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody AVE9633, developed with ImmunoGen, currently in Phase I, and an anti-tumor multikinase inhibitor, SAR103168, currently in preclinical development "The collaboration will enhance Sanofi's capabilities in the domain of stem cells and allow it to take an active part in the field of Chinese medical innovation," Sanofi told PharmAsia News. "With the new agreement, we will be able to develop new medicines in the oncology and hematology field." However, Sanofi and IHBDH officials declined to provide further details about the deal. One of the largest research hospitals in China, IHBDH is an institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS). The academy has 18 main institutes, five branch institutes, seven affiliated hospitals and five colleges. "This collaboration clearly demonstrates that the work of our scientists on the leading edge of cancer research is being acknowledged," CAMS Vice President Zhan Qimin said during the signing ceremony held in Beijing. "We actively encourage many more such initiatives." The deal with IHBDH builds upon Sanofi's existing presence in China, which includes three manufacturing facilities, located in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shenzhen, and a clinical research center in Shanghai. Sanofi also markets several products in China, including the oncologic Eloxatin (oxaliplatin), the antihypertensive Aprovel (irbesartan), the type 2 diabetes therapy Lantus (insuline glargine) and the insomnia treatment Stilnox (zolpidem; marketed as Ambien in some jurisdictions). Sanofi also markets several vaccines in China under its subsidiary Sanofi-Pasteur. The Sanofi agreement is the latest in a string of recent deals by multinational pharmaceutical companies looking to expand further into China. Earlier this month, AstraZeneca announced the establishment of its first clinical pharmacology unit in China, through an alliance with the Beijing University Third Hospital (PharmAsia News, Sept. 17, 2007). In May, GlaxoSmithKline said it would invest $40 million in 2007 to build an R&D centre in Shanghai, focusing on neurodegeneration disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (PharmAsia News, May 25, 2007). Novartis also has been busy, announcing plans last year to build a $100 million R&D center in Shanghai, focusing on diseases prevalent in China, including infectious causes of cancer (PharmAsia News, Nov. 6, 2006). "China does have many advantages, which attract international pharmaceutical firms to invest in research here," Xia Qian, an analyst in Beijing-based consultancy Orient Health Ecommerce Ltd., told PharmAsia News. "China provides them with a good patent protection policy, good fundamental infrastructure, lower business running costs and lower costs for employees, and government policy support." "Since international drug makers are already investing up-front in China, they see that as a reason enough to invest in research as well," Xia said. - Dai Jialing ([email protected]) |