A Special Note from the ICBPS files:

          An article in the Wall Street Journal (9 Oct.) noted. "When a small drug maker got FDA approval for an AIDS drug this past summer, the Chinese pharmaceutical industry quietly passed an important milestone. This appears to be the first time a Chinese company has won permission to export finished pills to the US." And this is just the beginning.

          The first International China BioPharmaceutical Symposium (ICBPS-I) in Beijing last December was internationally organized and managed by ASA with the full support, funding and operational guidance of Battelle and the China Pharmaceutical Association (CPA). At this meeting we quickly learned that the China Pharmaceutical/BioPharmaceutical Industries were at the take off position. What does this mean and are we, the West, prepared to take advantage of the opportunities and challenges this presents?

          Our first ICPBS participants now have a much better understanding of the complex roles China plays on the world market in pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals. We learned the capabilities and capacities of China to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They are now the world's leader in API production. But China's interest is more than just API. They want to supply finished drugs and their research is keen. Projected to become the largest supplier of drugs and pharmaceuticals by 2050, the west may want to consider how best to develop ties with China now.

          Many of our pharmaceutical industries have active partnerships with China producers. Western pharmaceutical companies have been working in China since the 1980s and the large multinational pharmaceutical companies have over 600 projects with Chinese companies. China is now developing and operating under regulations similar to the US pharmaceutical regulations, needs ties with the West to help learn GMP and to develop accepted business practices.
China has excellent scientists and laboratories whose numbers alone are overwhelming. However, real concerns on Chinese toxic materials and other issues may make the marketing of Chinese drugs challenging. How will China regulate copying of drugs and their sales? How will enforcement of existing, as well as future, regulations and laws improve? Working with Chinese companies may present challenges but what better way to successfully compete both within and outside of China?

          The ICBPS-I successfully encouraged and provided a venue for smaller and mid-sized Western drug companies to meet with Chinese scientists and regulators. Commenting on ICBPS-I, Mr. Charles Beattie, Canadian Embassy, said "It was truly a world class symposium, (and) the Chinese are really excellent hosts."

          ICBPS-II will continue this dialogue and the opportunity to work together. Under the umbrella of cooperation between Battelle Memorial Institute and the China Pharmaceutical Association, the chance to meet and interact with the Chinese scientists, regulators and industrialists will continue. The dates and location for ICBPS II will be supplied to all very soon.

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