Recently, Shenzhen’s Beike Biotechnology held the first annual 2008 China Stem Cell Technology Forum, a gathering that was attended by over 300 of the world’s most renowned stem cell biologist and researchers. Beike is a controversial company because it has already begun treating patients with injections of stem cells, usually a combination of umbilical cord cells and stem cells derived from each patient, even though its therapies have not undergone clinical trials. We look at Beike and its therapeutic results. More details... 

Special Feature:  Dr. Sean Hu, CEO of Beike Biotechnology responds to our article...

“Two years ago, when I decided to come back to China, I wanted an opportunity to change people’s lives and to help China’s pharmaceutical industry,” said Dr. Jin Li, COO of Shenogen Pharma Group, in an exclusive interview with ChinaBio® Today. “But if we do just what Western pharma does, we won’t develop a unique China pharmaceutical pathway,” he continued. Those words say a great deal about Dr. Li. But they also describe his company, Shenogen Pharma Group, which is a combination of Western practices and traditional Chinese medicines. It is also a highly innovative company that, despite its small size, is taking on a very large goal: small molecule and biologic drugs that are potential treatments for breast cancer and obesity. More details...

Two companies received the prestigious "Most Promising Company" award at the ChinaBio® Investor Forum held in Shanghai.  Chosen from 21 companies by a panel of prominent venture capitalists, the winning companies were Shenogen Pharma Group of Beijing and Beyond Diagnostics Inc. based in Shanghai.  The award was sponsored by Unitalen Attorneys at Law, a prominent IP law firm in China.

In seventeen months, 3SBio has gone from a well-received IPO to a company announcing a stock buyback to lift its stock price.  What happened?  Even though it has very strong financials, investors are not interested.  Meanwhile, the company is sitting on a large pile of IPO cash. Is 3SBio willing to do something dramatic to interest investors?  We take a look...

Stock Symbols: (NSDQ: SSRX) (NSDQ: AMGN) (NSDQ: AMAG) 

American Oriental Bioengineering has generated more than its fair share of financial engineering news during the first four days of this week. On Monday, the company announced it would buy back up to $75 million of its shares. On Tuesday, the company announced plans to offer $125 million in aggregate liquidation preference convertible preferred stock, and on Thursday, it rescinded the convertible preferred stock offer, citing market conditions. We look at the announcements and compare them to the solid results of the company's business.  More details...

Stock Symbol: (NYSE: AOB) (OTCBB: CAXG)

In an exclusive interview with ChinaBio Today, Dr. Peter Zhang, CEO and founder of Shanghai GenePharma Co. Ltd., talked about the origins of his young company, its business model that puts Shanghai GenePharma in a hot area of biotech, its recent fundraising, and its new facility located in the BioBay Park near Suzhou. More details... 

Stock Symbols: (NSDQ: ALNY) (NYSE: MRK)

Lotus Pharmaceuticals reported it made a profit of $11.2 million on revenues of $56.9 million in 2007. For the year, profits almost tripled, while revenues increased 57%. Without one-time items, net income would have been $8.5 million. Even at the lower figure, net earnings were 19 cents per fully diluted share, a jump of 34% over 2006. We look at where their revenues come from and what they are doing to increase their business in the future.  More details...

Stock Symbol: (OTCBB: LTUS)

Adaltis, Inc., a Montreal maker of in-vitro diagnostic systems, is concentrating its focus – both operationally and in terms of revenue – on China. The company has been transferring its manufacturing to the Shanghai while it also looks to the China market to increase its revenues. More details...

Stock Symbol: (TSX: ADS)

CapitalBio, a Beijing-based company that produces biochips, was in the news this week because it bought a MassARRAY® system from Sequenom.  CapitalBio made the purchase because it wants to expand its whole genome association study business into the fine mapping market. The company has developed a range of DNA, protein, cell, and tissue-based biochips that can be used for everything from drug screening to genomic and proteomic research. CapitalBio has also participated in the venture capital funding of AVIVA Biosciences in San Diego and Shenzhen-based Chipscreen Biosciences.  More details...

Stock Symbol: (NSDQ: SQNM)

According to China Central TV, Novartis produced 2.5 billion RMB ($342 million) of revenue in China during 2007, an increase of 20%. The company has been the fourth biggest supplier of medications to hospitals in the country. Although its China sales are still modest relative to its overall revenues, Novartis aims to make China one of its top 10 markets by 2010. So far, Novartis has invested over $400 million in building facilities in China. In March 2007, Novartis received approval from the SFDA for Sebivo®, (telbivudine), a treatment for chronic hepatitis B. More details...

Stock Symbols: (NYSE: NVS) (NSDQ: IDIX) (NYSE: WX)