China Breaks Ground on Largest Comprehensive Stem Cell Storage and Processing Facility

TAIZHOU, Jiangsu, China, April 22 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Jiangsu
government’s China Medical City (CMC) and Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
(http://www.beikebiotech.com ) broke ground on the 20,000 square-meter Stem
Cell Regenerative Medicine Industrial Project of National Bio-Industry Base
(NBPD). This facility will house China’s first comprehensive regenerative
medicine technology center and its largest international stem cell bank.

The NBPD facility is part of multi-stage project that consists of industry
partnerships aimed at providing a central research zone for China’s
regenerative medicine and bio-medical industry. Groups associated with this
biotechnology incubation joint-project include those from Stanford University,
the University of Texas Houston Medical Center, Fudan University, Huazhong
Science and Technology University, Nanjing University Medical School, Jiangsu
University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Jiangsu Provincial People’s
Hospital.

Mr. Chen Zhu, China’s Minister of Health, sent a letter of support that
was read at April’s ground-breaking ceremony. In his letter he stated that
biotechnology is China’s fastest developing technology, and stem cell research
promises to improve the quality of life for people everywhere. The NBPD
program was created to improve the understanding of stem cell technology and
facilitate China’s development as a world leader in the biotechnology industry.

Located in the heart of Taizhou and occupying more than 20 square
kilometers, the CMC district enjoys investment privileges as well as full
support from the local, provincial and national governments. CMC is quickly
becoming a world center for biotechnology due to the geographical
concentration of medical services and manufacturing, effectively increasing
research efficiency and streamlining production.

Jiangsu’s Minister of Health Guo Qinghua explained Beike’s role in the
NBPD project saying, “Beike is Jiangsu’s leading stem cell biotechnology
company and can easily take on the task of building the NBPD. This project is
set to become China’s largest stem cell research center.” Shenzhen Beike
Biotechnology was selected as CMC’s partner to build, develop and operate the
NBPD project.

The new stem cell processing facility includes four centers. The first is
the Stem Cell Technology Transfer Center where leading scientists can
collaborate and transfer their research to the clinic. The second is the Stem
Cell Bank, which will be the largest stem cell bank in Asia with the capacity
to store one million samples and facilities for a commercialized iPS bank. The
third is the Testing Center, accredited to test the purity, safety, potency
and stability of stem cell products. The fourth is the Clinical Technology
Service Center, which interfaces the stem cell processing base with hospitals,
distribution paths, and offers clinical support services to analyze the
outcomes of the stem cell treatments.

Dr. Sean Hu, chairman and CEO of Beike Biotech, praised China Medical
City’s foresight to develop fertile ground for stem cell technology
development both from a regulatory and a funding standpoint. Dr. Hu states,
“In the 1970′s the US government provided the intellectual property support
and venture capital companies offered the funding that allowed the US to
leapfrog past Europe to become the leader in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
China’s Medical City is now doing the same and we are starting to see the
results of these efforts. Beike feels honored to be able to help China Medical
City fulfill its mission of making China the world leader in clinical stem
cell technology.”

In June 2008, Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd. opened an 1,800 square-meter
stem cell bank in Taizhou, capable of storing 100,000 samples, marking the
first phase in the NBPD development process. The stem cell bank currently
contracts with major hospitals to store stem cell material and provide
finished stem-cell products to patients throughout China and abroad.

About China Medical City

Jiangsu Province is considered the number one location for China’s medical
industry based on revenue generated over the past 5 years. The city of Taizhou
in Jiangsu is not only the hometown of China’s President Hu Jintao but is
considered the fastest growing medical industry location in Jiangsu, with over
35% annual growth in that time. Established by the Chinese Government in 2005
and consisting of 20-25 square kilometers in the heart of Taizhou City, China
Medical City is fully supported by China’s local and national governments. CMC
is emerging as a strong leader in China’s efforts to develop a streamlined
pharmaceutical and medical materials industry that concentrates all medical
services and support in one location. Businesses located in CMC carry out a
range of manufacturing and support services including research and development,
creation and processing of medical materials, distribution, comprehensive
healthcare delivery solutions and patent filing support.

About Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Beike Biotechnology focuses on stem cell research and clinical application.
It currently offers a full line of stem cell products derived from umbilical
cord, cord blood, peripheral blood and bone marrow. The proprietary technology
used in clinical production of Beike’s stem cell products was developed in
cooperation with the leading universities in China.

SOURCE Beike Biotech Company Co., Ltd.