Chinese global pharmaceutical firm, Yisheng Biopharma Co., Ltd. met with the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) on May 11, 2022 to discuss the company’s plan to pursue investment interests in clinical trials and the opportunity for co-development/manufacturing and marketing of vaccines with a local company in the Philippines.
BOI Executive Director for Industry Development Service Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa and BOI Executive Director for Investments Promotion Evariste Cagatan were joined by the BOI-Manufacturing Industries Service and the International and Investments Promotion Service in the briefing with Yisheng Delegation led by its Chairman Zhang Yi, Chief Medical Officer Dra. Zenaida Mojares, General Manager Boonyiong Loh, and Business Development Manager Miel Dayrit.
In the meeting, Chairman Yi and the Yisheng team shared that the company is preparing to initiate Phase III global multi-center clinical trial for its PIKA rabies vaccine, and Phase II-III combined trials for its PIKA COV-19 vaccine. Yisheng likewise already has an ongoing engagement with a known local pharmaceutical company and will be meeting with other local companies for possible partnerships on the commercialization of its vaccines.
Yisheng Biopharma Co., Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company with operations in China, USA and Singapore, and is engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative biotherapeutics for cancers and infectious diseases using its novel PIKA immunomodulation technology. Thru this technology, Yisheng has developed a series of new immune drugs and innovative vaccine products and has obtained over 60 patents across over 30 countries and regions. Its YSJA™ rabies vaccine has been cited as a novel vaccine by the World Health Organization and classified as a therapeutic biologics product by the China National Medical Products Administration.
Executive Director Cagatan shared the BOI’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for a vaccine self-reliance program as part of its initiative to build the country’s vaccine manufacturing capability, starting with Covid-19. She encouraged Yisheng to also consider establishing a manufacturing facility in the Philippines for its vaccines and avail of incentives under the CREATE Act.
Executive Director Dichosa highlighted the options for the company to put up its production facility in the Philippines and partner with a local company or with the government thru the National Development Company (NDC). The BOI also assured Yisheng of its support in realizing its proposed projects in the Philippines.
According to Executive Directors Cagatan and Dichosa, Yisheng can start its operation with the fill-and-finish business arrangement and eventually start formulation and expand its activities in other pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain – which the company acknowledged as a possible investment consideration.
Yisheng Biopharma is planning for its second visit to the country to conduct face-to-face meetings and site visits on potential manufacturing sites/facilities with possible local partners, and work on the preparations for the clinical trials of its vaccines.