【16 July 2016, Hong Kong】On 15 July 2016, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Fosun Pharma”; stock code: 600196.SH, 02196.HK) announced that its holding subsidiary, Chongqing Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd. has received a letter regarding the approval of clinical trials for Apremilast tablets and Apremilast APIs (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “New Drug”) from China Food and Drug Administration.

The New Drug, independently developed by Fosun Pharma and its holding subsidiary, is a chemical drug to treat adult patients who suffer from active psoriatic arthritis and patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who receive light therapy or systematic therapy. The announcement stated that, there’s currently no Apremilast tablet launched in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) yet. According to the information of IMS Health (provided by IMS Health, a world-leading provider of professional information and strategic consultation services in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry), the sales of Apremilast tablets in the global market amounted to approximately USD 520 million in 2015. Fosun Pharma said that it had spent R&D expenses of approximately RMB 3 million on the New Drug at the current stage.

Relevant risks were also indicated in the announcement of Fosun Pharma. Pursuant to the regulatory requirements for the research and development of relevant new drugs in China, the sale of New Drug is still subject to a series of clinical trials and the examination and approval from national drug evaluation authorities.

Fosun Pharma always regards independent innovation as essential to its corporate development and continuously optimizes its pharmaceutical R&D system that integrates imitation and manufacture. In recent years, Fosun Pharma has been increasing investment in R&D and gained competitive edge in internationalized R&D capability. Up to now, the company and its holding subsidiaries have a staff of nearly 900 in its R&D team, spreading over Shanghai, Chongqing, Taipei and San Francisco, forming a systematic research system by interacting and integrating with each other. The company continues to raise investment in its four major platforms, aiming to establish highly-effective R&D platforms covering small-molecular drugs, large-molecule bio-similars, high-value generic drugs and specialized pharmaceutical technology. 

About Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co.,Ltd.

Established in 1994, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (“Fosun Pharma”; stock code: 600196.SH, 02196.HK) is a leading healthcare Group in the PRC. Fosun Pharma strategically covers important segments of the healthcare industry value-chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D, healthcare services, medical diagnosis, medical devices manufacturing and agent, as well as pharmaceutical distribution and retail, making contribution to improving people’s health. Fosun Pharma maintains a National Recognized Enterprise Technology Centre and a highly capable international R&D team, focusing on innovation and research of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular system, central nervous system, blood system, metabolism and digestive tract system, anti-infection and anti-tumor. With its commitment to innovation for good health and creating a better future, Fosun Pharma will continue insisting on the strategic development approach of “organic growth with external expansion and integrated business operation”, striving to be one of the first-class enterprises in the global healthcare market.