CJ Healthcare said Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with NCPC GeneTech Biotechnology, a Chinese biotech company, to transfer CJ-40001 (Original: Nesp), a second-generation biosimilar treating erythropoietin (EPO), which can cause renal anemia.

CJ Healthcare CEO Kang Seok-hee (right) and NCPC GeneTech Biotechnology CEO Ma Dong-jie shake hands after signing a technology transfer agreement for CJ-40001, at NCPC GeneTech Biotechnology headquarters in Shijiazhuang, China, Tuesday.

Under the agreement, NCPC GeneTech Biotechnology will be responsible for clinical trials, licensing, production and sales of CJ-40001 in China, while CJ Healthcare will receive a contract fee and royalties following the development stage, including the application for a license and approval in China.

CJ-40001 is an EPO treatment for treating anemia and solid cancer chemotherapy in chronic renal failure patients. The treatment differs from the first-generation therapies as it improved dosing frequency of once per week or once every two weeks.

“The company is pleased to show its capacity in R&D of biopharmaceuticals in China following the previously signed export agreement in Japan,” CJ Healthcare CEO Kang Seok-hee said. “In the future, we aim to also expand into Southeast Asia, Latin America and other markets.”

The world’s EPO market is worth approximately 8 trillion won ($6.9 billion), with the second generation EPO market worth around 3 trillion won. The company expects that the Chinese second generation EPO product market will be worth 300 billion won.

corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr

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