ScinoPharm to Provide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient to F*TaiGen for Novel Stem Cell Drug

TAINAN, June 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ScinoPharm Taiwan, Ltd. (TWSE: 1789) specializing in the development and manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and TaiGen Biotechnology (4157.TW; F*TaiGen) jointly announced today the signing of a manufacturing contract for the clinical supply of the API of Burixafor, a new chemical entity discovered and developed by TaiGen. The API will be manufactured in ScinoPharm's plant in Changshu, China. This cooperation not only demonstrates Taiwan's international competitive strength in new drug development, but also sees the beginning of a domestic pharmaceutical specialization and cooperation mechanisms, thus establishing a groundbreaking milestone for Taiwan's pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Jo Shen, President and CEO of ScinoPharm said, "This cooperation with TaiGen is of representative significance in the domestic pharmaceutical companies' upstream and downstream cooperation and self-development of new drugs, and indicates the Taiwanese pharmaceutical industry's cumulative research and development momentum is paving the way forward." Dr. Jo Shen emphasized, "ScinoPharm's Changshu Plant provides high-quality API R&D and manufacturing services through its fast, flexible, reliable competitive advantages, effectively assisting clients of new drugs in gaining entry into China, Europe, the United States, and other international markets."

According to Dr. Ming-Chu Hsu, Chairman and CEO of TaiGen, "R&D is the foundation of the pharmaceutical industry. Once a drug is successfully developed, players at all levels of the value chain could reap the benefit. Burixafor is a 100% in-house developed product that can be used in the treatment of various intractable diseases. The cooperation between TaiGen and ScinoPharm will not only be a win-win for both sides, but will also provide high-quality novel dug for patients from around the world."

Burixafor is a novel stem cell mobilizer that can efficiently mobilize bone marrow stem cells and tissue precursor cells to the peripheral blood. It can be used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy sensitization and other ischemic diseases. The results of the ongoing Phase II clinical trial in the United States are very impressive. The drug has received a Clinical Trial Application from China's FDA for the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial in chemotherapy sensitization under the 1.1 category. According to the pharmaceutical consultancy company JSB, with only stem cell transplant and chemotherapy sensitizer as the indicator, Burixafor's annual sales are estimated at USD1.1 billion.

ScinoPharm currently has accepted over 80 new drug API process research and development plans, of which five new drugs have been launched in the market. In addition, six products have entered Phase III clinical trials. Through the Changshu Plant's operation in line with the latest international cGMP plant equipment and quality management standards, the company provides customers with one stop shopping services in professional R&D, manufacturing, and outsourcing, thereby shortening the customer development cycle of customers' products and accelerating the launch of new products to the market.

TaiGen's focus is on the research and development of novel drugs. Besides Burixafor, the products also include anti-infective, Taigexyn®, and an anti-hepatitis C drug, TG-2349. Taigexyn® is the first in-house developed novel drug that received new drug application approval from Taiwan's FDA. TG-2349 is intended for the 160 million global patients with hepatitis C with huge market potential. TaiGen hopes to file one IND with the US FDA every 3-4 years to expand TaiGen's product line.

About ScinoPharm   

ScinoPharm Taiwan, Ltd. is a leading process R&D and API manufacturing service provider to the global pharmaceutical industry. With research and manufacturing facilities in both Taiwan and China, ScinoPharm offers a wide portfolio of services ranging from custom synthesis for early phase pharmaceutical activities to contract services for brand companies as well as APIs for the generic industry.  For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.scinopharm.com

About TaiGen Biotechnology

TaiGen Biotechnology is a leading research-based and product-driven biotechnology company in Taiwan with a wholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing, China. The company's first product, Taigexyn®, have already received NDA approval from Taiwan's FDA. In addition to Taigexyn®, TaiGen has two other in-house discovered NCEs in clinical development under IND with US FDA: TG-0054, a chemokine receptor antagonist for stem cell transplantation and chemosensitization, in Phase 2 and TG-2349, a HCV protease inhibitor for treatment of chronic hepatitis infection, in Phase 2. Both TG-0054 and TG-2349 are currently in clinical trials in patients in the US.

SOURCE ScinoPharm Taiwan Ltd.