SHANGHAI PUDONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Chinese pharmaceutical industry is accelerating its expansion into major global markets, not only in its traditional area of strength, the manufacture of pharmaceutical raw materials (APIs), but particularly in finished formulations such as tablets, capsules and injections. These are areas of the market for off patent (or generic) medicines, which have traditionally been dominated by Indian companies. For that reason, the China Centre for Pharmaceutical International Exchange (CCPIE) of the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), is holding its second International Forum on Generic Drugs in Shanghai today and tomorrow.

Supporting CCPIE's initiative are the US Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA), the European Commission, the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) , Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO). Assisting CCPIE and co-sponsoring the Forum is London-based pharmaceutical company, Stravencon Ltd., which provides Chinese companies with a platform to access the European market.

This year's Forum is host to about 300 attendees, including the key management of major Chinese pharmaceutical companies and senior officials of the SFDA. Among the featured speakers are Justina Molzon, head of international relations, and Dr. Keith Webber of the generics division of the US-FDA; Patrick Deboyser of the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection in Brussels; Gerald Heddell, head of Enforcement and Inspections at MHRA; Andrew Adam of Health Canada; and Tony Gould of the WHO. Also participating are Chinese and international experts on manufacturing quality and intellectual property. Mr. Brian Tempest, the former CEO of the Indian generics manufacturer, Ranbaxy, will also be speaking about the firm's experiences in globalizing its operations.

According to one of the speakers, Stravencon's CEO, Douglas B. Andrews: "This Forum will provide the senior management of Chinese companies with the necessary information to emulate in pharmaceuticals what Chinese firms have already accomplished in many other industrial fields."

Contacts

In China:
Mr. Xiaoli (William) Wang,
Country Manager, Stravencon,
tel. +86 13372556858
or
In the UK:
Douglas B. Andrews,
CEO, Stravencon,
tel. +44 7881820416
or
Visit our site: http://www.stravencon.com/News/