BEIJING, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Nasdaq: SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that Weidong Yin, Chairman, President & CEO, was selected by China Central Television (CCTV) to be one of 18 nominees for China's 2009 Economic Man-of-the-Year.

CCTV's Economic Man-of-the-Year is the country's most influential and well-known business award, sometimes referred to as the "Oscar Award of the Chinese Economy." The award is granted to those business leaders who exemplify China's economic growth, are central to the Chinese economy in the current year, and represent role models of the Chinese economy.

Mr. Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO of Sinovac, remarked, "For me, it's unexpected to be nominated for China's 2009 Economic Man-of-the-Year. And I am pleased to have it on my personal record. It also demonstrates that the contributions made by Sinovac, represented by me, to Chinese society has been recognized and appreciated by the public. Sinovac's management will continue to execute our business development strategy in this favorable environment and we are confident on our performance and growth. We will continue to make efforts to maximize our shareholders' interests."

The award's criteria include creativity, driving force, vision, and social responsibility. The nominees include Yu Minhong (Michael Yu), CEO of New Oriental Group and Cao Guowei (Charles Chao), CEO of Sina.com, among others. The final results will be announced on Dec. 23, 2009. Winners are chosen by a panel of expert judges, aided by votes from the public via the Internet.

Previous recipients of the Economic Man-of-the-Year award included Lin Yifu, World Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Economist; Liu Chuanzhi, Chairman of Lenovo; and Li Yanhong (Robin Li), president of Baidu.com.

About Sinovac

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac's vaccine products include Healive(R) (hepatitis A), Bilive(R) (combined hepatitis A and B), and Anflu(R) (influenza). Panflu(R) and PANFLU.1(TM), Sinovac's pandemic influenza vaccine (H5N1) and H1N1 vaccine, have already been approved for government stockpiling. Sinovac is developing vaccines for enterovirus 71, universal pandemic influenza, Japanese encephalitis, and human rabies. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Tangshan Yian, is conducting field trials for independently developed inactivated animal rabies vaccine.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sinovac's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Sinovac does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

     Helen G. Yang
     Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
     Tel:   +86-10-8289-0088 x9871
     Fax:   +86-10-6296-6910
     Email: info@sinovac.com

     Investors:
     Amy Glynn/Stephanie Carrington
     The Ruth Group
     Tel:   +1-646-536-7023/7017
     Email: aglynn@theruthgroup.com
            scarrington@theruthgroup.com

     Media:
     Janine McCargo
     The Ruth Group
     Tel:   +1-646-536-7033
     Email: jmccargo@theruthgroup.com

SOURCE Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

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