HUYA Bioscience International Strengthens R&D Leadership in Traditional Chinese Medicine With the School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

SAN DIEGO, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- HUYA Bioscience International, a leader in globalizing China's biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced a strategic partnership with the School of Chinese Materia Medica of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). As one of a series of collaborations that HUYA has established with China's leading research and development institutions, the agreement demonstrates HUYA's visionary commitment to enabling and accelerating the global development and commercialization of novel biopharmaceutical products originating in China.

HUYA is one of the first companies to have recognized China's potential to help meet the global need for new preclinical and clinical stage compounds. The agreement with the School of Chinese Materia Medica of BUCM provides HUYA with access to and first review of certain novel therapeutic candidates owned or controlled by the school. In return, the school gains access to HUYA's expertise in preclinical and clinical development and its global network of pharmaceutical partners.

The partnership is expected to bring productive synergy between the two parties. The School of Chinese Materia Medica of BUCM is recognized for its strength of leading-edge research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). HUYA has a strong commitment toward developing novel therapeutics from TCM in areas of unmet medical needs. HBI-3000, HUYA's novel anti-arrhythmic compound currently in development in both China and the U.S., was originally derived from a TCM.

"The partnership between HUYA and BUCM's School of Chinese Materia Medica symbolizes a new frontier in the progression of TCM to the worldwide markets, which will benefit patients globally," said Mireille Gingras, Ph.D., President and CEO of HUYA. "We look forward to collaborating with the school's talented research staff to address the global need for novel pharmaceutical products."

"The School of Chinese Materia Medica of BUCM is committed to strengthening scientific research and exploring new innovations in TCM," said Professor Renbing Shi, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. "We are pleased to partner with HUYA's expert team to share knowledge and engage in co-development activities that will enhance our research programs, plus modernize and internationalize the results of our efforts on innovative drugs."

ABOUT HUYA BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL

HUYA is the leader in global pharmaceutical co-development with China. With six offices strategically located in China, the most comprehensive Chinese compound portfolio, and more exclusive agreements with premier Chinese biotech centers than any other company, HUYA has pioneered the most innovative and productive approach to pharmaceutical co-development between the U.S. and China. HUYA offers Western pharmaceutical companies efficient access to innovative therapeutic opportunities and reduces complexity in making deals in China. The company has become a champion of guiding China's biomedical innovations to the worldwide marketplace. HUYA has joint headquarter offices in San Diego, CA, USA and Shanghai, China. Additional information about the company is available at www.huyabio.com.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA, BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE

The Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) is currently the only traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) higher learning institution that has met the "211 Project" standards for national development in China. Founded in 1958, the School of Chinese Materia Medica of BUCM has well-defined missions, outstanding educational subjects, and prominent professional specialties and is the cradle of cultivating high-level Chinese medicine experts. The school has 10 departments, such as Departments of Pharmacognosy, Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Chinese Herbal Chemistry, Chinese Herbal Pharmaceutics, Chinese Herbal Resources, Chinese Clinical Materia Medica and Biopharmaceutics. In recent years, the school assumes the responsibility for numerous research programs of various levels, such as the State "863", "973" and the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Key Programs. For more information, visit http://www.bucm.edu.cn.

SOURCE HUYA Bioscience International