Aida granted new anti-cancer patent

One of mainland China's leading pharmaceutical companies, has announced that it was granted an additional patent related to its Rh-Apo2L anti-cancer drug, the second of three patents that had been applied for which Aida believes places it at the vanguard of China's pharmaceutical industry.

The patent was jointly granted by China's State Intellectual Property Office ("SIPO") to East China University of Science& Technology ("ECUST") and Aida's majority-controlled subsidiary, Shanghai Quiaer Biotechnology Company, Ltd ("Shanghai Qiaer"). ECUST is the partner with Aida in the research of this field.

The patent, certificate number: 200510028037.6, deals with the cultivation of Rh-Apo2L. The main content of the patent includes the following:

• the fermentative process dividing into five stages,
• the different stage separately increasing the different C/N culture medium,
• realization of C and N demand balance, and
• that the methodology set by Aida can effectively enhance the soluble protein expression quantity while simultaneously reducing the fermentative process of the ethanoic acid accumulation.
• Mr. Jinsong Zhou, the CEO of Shanghai Qiaer stated, "This continues to establish Aida as a technology leader in not only the Chinese pharmaceutical field, but also in the international arena. Our scientists and researchers are deeply encouraged by the news and will reinforce our confidence in the ongoing clinical trials of Rh-Apo2L."

Rh-Apo2L is a pioneering biotechnology gene therapy drug used to treat certain forms of cancer. Rh-Apo2L has completed the Phase I clinical trials successfully in July 2006. This biopharmaceutical drug has gained the attention of researchers and clinical professionals throughout China who are observing the drug for potential replacement of surgery and radiation therapy for cancer. Potentially, over 8 million people can be treated each year in China with this drug.

Aida Pharmaceuticals is a product-focused pharmaceuticals company engaged in the formulation, clinical testing, registration, manufacture, sales and marketing of advanced pharmaceutical and genetic products in mainland China. The Company's mission is to discover, develop and market meaningful new therapies that improve human health. Aida Pharmaceuticals, in operation since March 1999, is headquartered in Hangzhou, China with manufacturing, distribution and sales points throughout mainland China. Aida is GMP certified in China and ISO9002 certified for quality assurance and ISO14000 certified for ecologically-friendly practices.