Venturepharm-ASIA, A CBI Company

In May 2008, Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc., (CBI), and Venturepharm Laboratories, Ltd., (VPL), announced a joint venture to establish one of the premiere contract research organizations in the world providing end-to-end discovery, development and clinical research capabilities.

This partnership brings together the best of what the East and the West offer in the pharmaceutical outsourcing industry by providing rapid, secure, high quality, and innovative services at globally competitive prices. The benefits of this partnership include:

• Innovative, secure and comprehensive drug discovery services.
• Western-based project management and innovation combined with Eastern-based expertise in drug discovery and low cost base.
• Seamless progression from initial target discovery up through IND enabling studies.
• Improved efficiencies and pricing from design to IND filing.

Capabilities & capacity
Venturepharm ASIA will initially build out two state-of-the-art chemistry facilities (150,000 sq ft) in Jiangsu Province, China and a third facility (45,000 sq ft) for compound screening. To support the new facilities, 200 new chemists will be added by the end of 2008 with the aim of growing the group to over 1,000 by 2010.

The facilities will be utilized to support drug discovery services provided through CBI & VPL for clients requiring the following capabilities:

• Medicinal and synthetic chemistry services
• Chemical compound, intermediate and building block materials
• Compound library production
• Peptide design and synthesis
• Biochemical and cell based assays
• Assay development and validation services
• Pre-clinical testing; in-vitro and in-vivo ADMET

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc.
With more than 100 experts in offices throughout the world, CBI offers cutting-edge research and development products and services to the global life sciences industry. The CBI group operates through four business units:

• CBI Services offers expertise in molecular biology, protein chemistry, bio-analytical services. Learn more at www.cbi-biotech.com.
• Mimotopes Pty. Ltd., delivers peptide and discovery chemistry capabilities. Lear more at , www.mimotopes.com.
• Fairfax Identity Laboratories is a DNA reference laboratory providing genetic testing. Learn more at http://www.fairfaxidlab.com.

Venturepharm Laboratories, Ltd.
VPL is the largest provider of pharmaceutical development services in China including:

• API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient)
• Formulation development
• Clinical trial management
• Product registration, marketing and sales to pharmaceutical distributors and patients in China and overseas.

VPL has experienced dramatic success since its inception in 1999. Powered with seven VSmart® technology platforms, it has over 400 non-patent infringed products approved, or pending. In addition, six new chemical entities are at preclinical stage. These products encompass over 13 major therapeutic areas. Additional information on VPL is available at http://www.venturepharm.com.