Drug discovery partnership to focus on cancer treatment

Chinese company Yabao Pharmaceutical and the University of South Australia (UniSA) have formalised their agreement to collaborate on the development and commercialisation of innovative new pharmaceuticals.

The partnership, originally announced in September this year, will see the creation of a joint drug discovery laboratory focusing on the treatment of cancer. Yabao will provide cash and in-kind contributions towards drug discovery and development at the laboratory, with potential candidates to be identified by UniSA. Yabao will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialise the drug candidates in China, while UniSA will retain rights in all other markets.

The agreement was formalised when Dr Peng Wang, the corporate vice president and president of research and development of Yabao Pharmaceutical, visited UniSA’s City West campus on Monday.

UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said the relationship with Yabao is a great example of transnational enterprise. He noted, “The challenge of cancer is a global challenge, and it makes the best sense, for those dedicated to beating the disease, to find ways to productively collaborate on cures.

“What better partners than Yabao — one of China’s most successful pharmaceutical companies — and Dr Peng Wang, someone with 25 years of international experience in drug development and a member of China’s FDA Advisory Board?”

Dr Wang today delivered the guest lecture ‘Pharmaceutical R&D in China: the Current Status and Future Directions’ at the university. He will also be spending time in UniSA laboratories and getting to know researchers, partners and colleagues at UniSA.