TCM Treatment Announced for H1N1 Flu

Traditional Chinese medicine experts have discovered a TCM treatment for H1N1 flu, according to the Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They selected Jin Hua Qing Gan Fang from more than 120 TCM flu remedies, finding that the treatment lessened flu symptoms and shortened the time people felt sick. Best of all, they claim it costs only one-fourth as much as western flu drugs and does not cause any adverse effect.

After five months’ scientific research, the effectiveness of TCM on A/H1N1 flu patients had been proved in clinical tests, said the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau.

The city has reserved 2 million TCM doses to fight against the flu.

“The Beijing municipal government has invested 10 million yuan (1.4 million U.S. dollars) to test the effectiveness and safety of TCM to treat A/H1N1 flu since May,” said Zhao Jing, head of Beijing Administration of TCM.

Zhao said as of Sept. 1, 326 of 845 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 in Beijing had been cured with TCM treatments.

“It has proved very effective to use TCM and a combination of TCM and Western medicine to treat A/H1N1 flu patients,” Zhao said.

Wang Yuguang, a senior expert with Beijing Ditan Hospital, which has been designated to treat A/H1N1 flu cases in the city, said all 184 patients who received TCM treatment at the hospital had been discharged after full recovery.

“Clinical tests have showed that TCM doses help reduce symptoms of fever, sore throat and cough,” he said. “No side effects and adverse reactions have been reported.”

Xinhua, the Chinese News agency

Architecture in Shanghai – László Hudec

As the “Pearl of the Orient”, architecture is definitely one of Shanghai’s strongest suits. With new buildings sprouting daily, the city is chock full of architectural masterpieces both old (Puxi) and new (Pudong) that will never cease to excite design enthusiasts.

Probably the most celebrated architect in the history of Shanghai, the name László Hudec is synonymous with most of the city’s landmarks. The Hungarian-born architect shaped Shanghai’s skyline in the early 20th century with grand structures, the most notable being Park Hotel , the Green House and the Grand Theatre, all amounting to more than 60 buildings. Hudec had a wide range of influences: from gothic, neo classicism, greco-roman, art deco, avant-garde (LeCorbusier, Bauhaus) and even Islamic. Combining these styles into one building may sound like an architectural passé, but Hudec managed to seamlessly integrate them into one another, all these while maintaining his philosophy of functionality, technical and aesthetic values in mind.

Hudec proved himself to be ahead of his time with the realization of Park Hotel (pictured above).  This project was especially notable due to Shanghai’s land condition, the city lays on soft soil, causing buildings to sink 2-3 cm per year, making the idea of a skyscraper seemed ridiculous and impossible. The architect and his team of collaborators and engineers, however, defied this belief and successfully constructed the 22-story Park Hotel, the tallest building in Shanghai (until the 1980s) through solutions inspired by German technologies at the time. The hotel remains today as one of Shanghai’s elegant buildings.

(clockwise) The Shanghai Grand Theatre, Moore Church, Normandie Apartment, Villa on KangPing Road

Some of Hudec’s buildings, possibly including the Park Hotel and the Grand Theatre are undergoing massive restorations in time for the upcoming 2010 World Expo. Shanghai Daily recently reported that Hungary will donate money to aid this plan. According to Andras Huszty, special envoy of the Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and commissioner general for the country’s Expo project, the country, along with the Shanghai Culture Heritage Management Committee will select a number of Hudec’s buildings to restore to his original designs.

Hungary will also organize a “Hudec Tour” with a Shanghai travel agency to take visitors on a bus tour to some of Hudec’s buildings. These tours will be tied to Hungary’s Expo pavilion as a part of its off-site Expo exhibition.

To learn more about László Hudec and his works, please visit www.hudec.sh

Next Step Connections opens a year-round internship program in Hong Kong

Next Step Connections (NSC), established in 2007 in Shanghai will be launching its second year-round professional internship program in the city of Hong Kong in March 2010.

Students, graduates and young professionals from all over the world will be able to participate in an internship in their desired field at their preferred time. More information at www.nextstepconnections.com

Alvogen establishes operations in Asia and opens an office in Shanghai

Alvogen, Inc. (Alvogen), the U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has established operations in Asia and has opened an office in Shanghai, China that will lead efforts to commercialize the company’s products in the country. The Chinese market represents a strategic gateway for future business development in Asia as the company aims to solidify its presence in the region. Alvogen China also will serve as a global sourcing unit for active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products that will be used throughout the company’s regional business units that encompass North America, Europe and Asia. “We see great opportunities for our business in Asia, and the creation of Alvogen China is integral to our development strategy. Through registration of our own products, portfolio acquisitions and strategic partnerships, we aim to build a strong presence in the market with a targeted product offering,” said Robert Wessman, Executive Chairman of Alvogen. Wessman is the former chief executive of Actavis, one of the largest generic pharmaceutical companies in the world. “We are committed to identifying new alliances in China that will further strengthen our development, manufacturing and sourcing capabilities.” Qin Maximilian Lue, MD, PhD, who is the primary shareholder of Shanghai-based Mephax Holdings, will become the managing director of Alvogen China, and will lead a newly recruited team with extensive experience. Dr. Lue has over 20 years of experience in the global medical and pharmaceutical market. Alvogen believes that the Chinese market will experience strong growth in the coming years and will play a central role in the company’s international expansion. “Within the next five years we aim to be one of the strongest pharmaceuticals companies in China, recognized for our reputation of high quality products and services,” said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Alvogen. “It is our vision to build a leaner and more flexible multinational operation that overcomes the challenges of the traditional generics business model,” said Drysdale.

http://www.alvogen.com/

Eli Lilly Made China Pharma Market a Top Priority

In an annual review of its business plans, Eli Lilly revealed China’s pharmaceutical market will be a top priority for the company, reported seekingalpha.com on Dec 11, 2009.

Lilly has reorganized its corporate structure so that one of its six units would be devoted to emerging markets, and this unit will aim at taking advantage of the expected growth in China. Because one-third of worldwide growth in pharmaceutical markets will come from emerging markets, Lilly decided to recognize the importance of these new markets in its corporate goals.

As Lilly pointed out, it has already begun taking steps to increase its pharmaceutical presence in China. Currently, with its 2008 China revenues topping $200 million, Lilly is the 11th ranked big pharma in China. Its 2009 revenues are running 20% higher than last year.

The company has doubled its employee count from 1,100 to about 2,200, and it is currently building a second manufacturing plant in Suzhou to produce insulin (insulin has its own unit in Lilly’s corporate structure, the only disease to have a dedicated division).

In a press release, Lilly listed three initiatives that will help the company increase its impact in emerging markets:

Maximize Lilly’s core assets, including both patented and post-patent medicines. Two key tactics are to accelerate new product launches and to capitalize on longer product lifecycles in select countries such as China.

Add select non-Lilly medicines to build upon core therapeutic areas, especially diabetes, oncology and neuroscience, to accelerate top-line growth. This could include product acquisitions and co-promotion or co-marketing agreements.

Establish local alliances to more effectively access fast-growing market segments in select countries where the company’s current infrastructure is not well suited to capture growth.

On the drug development side, Lilly has implemented a partnering strategy in China rather than establishing an in-house R&D facility. It is proud that it does not own a single test tube in the PRC.

However, it is developing risk sharing arrangements with local companies, including a division of ShangPharma called Shanghai ChemExplorer that is devoted to working on Lilly’s projects. It also has a cancer/inflammation partnership with the Hutchison MediPharma division of Chi-Med.