February 5, 2011 -- In 2010, life science VC investing in China climbed an astonishing 319% to break $1 billion, while remaining flat, year-over-year, in the US; China will invest $300 million in the Human Variome Project, a worldwide study of human genetic variation; START (South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics) will open a Phase I cancer clinical trial facility in Fudan University Hospital; Yabao Pharma signed a $50 million drug development deal with Frontage Labs; Jiangsu Aosaikang Pharma paid $1.7 million for a 5% stake in Living Cell Technologies of New Zealand; Hutchison MediPharma began a Phase I trial of its second anti-angiogenesis cancer drug candidate; Sinovac Biotech is seeking approval for a clinical trial of its new pneumococcal polysaccharides vaccines; Avacta Group signed a distribution agreement with Cold Spring Biotech of Taiwan for its laser drug discovery machines; Tacere Therapeutics reacquired Asian rights to its RNAi candidates for hepatitis C; and Eli Lilly sued Hospira, seeking to block sales of a generic version of its cancer drug Gemzar, whose API is made in China. More details….
