China Biotech Week in Review: Wyeth / Pfizer Merger Allowed

The Anti-Monopoly Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has given its okay to the merger between Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) (see story). However, MOFCOM will require that Pfizer divest its swine mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine business.

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) plans to double its workforce inside of China this year, bringing the total up to 2,000 (see story). At the same time, the company announced a 5,500 employee reduction in its worldwide staff count that will help trim $1 billion in annual costs. Inside China, Lilly will double its sales force from 800 to 1600 so that it can expand its coverage in central and western areas of the country. The company will also add operations and accounting personnel.

Sinovac Biotech (NYSE: SVA) announced a second large H1N1 flu vaccine order from China’s national government (see story). The new order is for an additional 3 million doses, which follows the original 3.3 million dose order of early September. Sinovac expects to deliver 4.5 million doses of its PANFLU.1 flu vaccine to the government by the end of October.

Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. has licensed the ex-Japan Asian rights of its overactive bladder treatment to Eisai Co. (TSE: 4523), a fellow Japanese pharma (see story). Uritos® Tablets (imidafenacin) was discovered by Kyorin, which has marketed the product in Japan since 2007. Eisai will own marketing rights for China, India, Sri Lanka and ASEAN countries. Kyorin and Eisai will work together to get the product approved for sale in these countries.

Health Robotics of Italy has signed a five-year exclusive agreement with SINOPHARM Foreign Trade to distribute and support its IV robots inside China (see story). The company’s two products are CytoCare™ for hazardous materials such as chemotherapy and i.v.STATION™ Robots for non-hazardous drugs.

Disclosure: none