NANJING, China, May 26 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group ("Simcere" or the "Company") (NYSE: SCR), a leading manufacturer and supplier of branded generic and innovative pharmaceuticals in China, today announced an agreement to acquire a 37.5% stake in Jiangsu Yanshen Biological Technology Stock Co., Ltd. ("Jiangsu Yanshen") from existing shareholders for a total cash consideration of approximately RMB195.5 million. Upon the closing of the transaction, Simcere is expected to be the largest shareholder in Jiangsu Yanshen.

Located in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Yanshen is a leading China-based developer and manufacturer of vaccines. Jiangsu Yanshen's core products include an influenza vaccine and a human use rabies vaccine (vero cell), which have the second and the fourth largest market shares in China respectively.

In addition, Jiangsu Yanshen has received a new medicine certificate from the PRC State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") for its freeze-dried human use rabies vaccine (vero cell) and has completed clinical trials of its purified hepatitis A inactivated vaccine (vero cell). SFDA approval for the purified hepatitis A inactivated vaccine (vero cell) and GMP certification for the associated new manufacturing facility are pending.

"Vaccines have strong market potential and represent one of China's key emerging industries," said Mr. Jinsheng Ren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. "We are delighted to enter this new market through our investment in Jiangsu Yanshen. This is another significant development for Simcere in the biopharmaceutical area, following our recent investment in Shanghai Celgen Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions. These forward looking statements are based upon management's current views and expectations with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Furthermore, these statements are, by their nature, subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Simcere's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Simcere does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Simcere Pharmaceutical Group

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR; Simcere) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of branded generic and innovative pharmaceuticals in China. In recent years, Simcere has been focusing its strategy on the development of innovative pharmaceuticals and first-to-market generics, and has introduced an innovative anti-cancer medication Endu, a first-to-market medication Sinofuan, and first-to-market generics such as Bicun and Anxin. Simcere manufactures and sells antibiotics, anti-cancer medication and stroke management medication. Simcere concentrates its research and development efforts on the treatment of diseases with high incidence and/or mortality rates and for which there is a clear demand for more effective pharmacotherapy such as cancer, strokes, orthopaedics and infectious diseases. For more information about Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, please visit http://www.simcere.com .

SOURCE Simcere Pharmaceutical Group

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