Simcere Receives SFDA Approval to Manufacture and Sell Zanamivir in China

USA - English

• USA - English

NANJING, China, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group ("Simcere" or the "Company") (NYSE: SCR), a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China, today announced that one of its subsidiaries, Nanjing Simcere Dongyuan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., has received new drug registration approval from the State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") to manufacture and sell Zanamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor inhalant used in the prevention and treatment of Influenza A and Influenza B. Zanamivir is marketed globally by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Relenza.

Zanamivir is one of only two WHO approved drugs to which the new H1N1 strain of influenza A has been shown to be susceptible. GlaxoSmithKline granted a license to Simcere in 2006 to manufacture and sell Zanamivir and its formulations in China. Simcere is the only pharmaceutical company in mainland China that has such a license.

Mr. Jinsheng Ren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, commented, "We are delighted to receive SFDA approval to manufacture and sell Zanamivir, which has proved very successful in the fight against the H1N1 strain of Influenza A. With our leading domestic manufacturing facilities, well-known brand and nationwide marketing platform, Simcere is well prepared to bring this exciting drug to China."

About Simcere Pharmaceutical Group

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR, Simcere) is a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China. In recent years, Simcere has been focusing its strategy on the development of innovative pharmaceuticals and first-to-market generics, and has introduced an innovative anti-cancer medication Endu, a first-to-market medication Sinofuan, and first-to-market generics such as Bicun and Anxin. Simcere manufactures and sells antibiotics, anti-cancer medication, stroke management medication and biopharmaceutical drugs such as vaccines. Simcere concentrates its research and development efforts on the treatment of diseases with high incidence and/or mortality rates and for which there is a clear demand for more effective pharmacotherapy such as cancer, strokes, orthopaedics and infectious diseases. For more information about Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, please visit http://www.simcere.com .

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor and Media Contacts:
     Email: [email protected]

    In Nanjing:
     Frank Zhao
     Chief Financial Officer
     Simcere Pharmaceutical Group
     Tel:    +86-25-8556-6666 x8818

    In Beijing:
     Ruirui Jiang
     Brunswick Group
     Tel:   +86-10-6566-2256

    In the United States:
     Kate Tellier
     Brunswick Group
     Tel:   +1-212-333-3810

    In Hong Kong:
     Joseph Lo Chi-Lun
     Brunswick Group
     Tel:   +852-3512-5000

SOURCE Simcere Pharmaceutical Group