Novo Nordisk in CAS partnership

Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) have agreed to jointly establish a research foundation in China.

To be known as Novo Nordisk Chinese Academy of Science Research Foundation, the institution will invest in activities taking place within the fields of diabetes and biopharmaceuticals.

Related disciplines and technologies, including protein chemistry, immunology, inflammation, toxicology, oncology, endocrinology and drug delivery, will also come under the foundation’s remit.

Professor Chen Zhu, CAS vice-president and foundation chair person, welcomed the cooperation, claiming Chinese and Danish scientists share an “excellent” history of co-working. This new institution will serve to “further strengthen” this tradition, the professor added.

“Novo Nordisk is well recognised in China for its major role in preventing and treating diabetes. We are very pleased to collaborate with Novo Nordisk and believe the collaboration will be of great benefit to both parties,” Professor Chen said.

In addition to the new partnership, the Danish group also has a research and development centre in China, established with other international biopharmaceutical companies in Beijing in 2002.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, its insulin detemir drug Levemir was approved by the European Commission for once-daily use in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs. The group claims to be a world leader in diabetes care.