WuXi AppTec explained

WuXi AppTec
Type:Public
Key People:Ge Li
Location:Shanghai, China
Industry:Contract Research Organizations
Pharmaceutical
Biopharmaceutical
Medical Devices

WuXi AppTec (WuXi is pronounced as Wu-shee) is a global pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device company.

History

WuXi PharmaTech was founded in December 2000 in Shanghai by organic chemist Ge Li.[1] [2] The company opened chemistry facilities in Tianjin in 2007. In 2008, WuXi PharmaTech acquired AppTec Laboratory Services Inc., a US-based company founded in 2001 with expertise in medical-device and biologics testing and with facilities in St. Paul, MN; Philadelphia, PA; and Atlanta, GA. In the same year the company was renamed WuXi AppTec.[3] [4] WuXi AppTec opened a toxicology facility in Suzhou in 2009.[5]

WuXi AppTec's subsidiary, WuXi STA, opened a large-scale manufacturing facility in Jinshan in 2010. The company began a biologics discovery, development, and manufacturing operation in Shanghai and Wuxi City in 2011. At the same year, WuXi AppTec acquired MedKey, a China-based clinical research company,[6] and Abgent, a San Diego company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of antibodies for biological research and drug discovery.[7] In 2012, WuXi AppTec opened a chemistry facility in Wuhan and a GMP biologics drug-substance facility in Wuxi City. That year WuXi AppTec also entered into a joint venture with MedImmune, the biologics arm of AstraZeneca, to co-develop MEDI5117, an anti-IL6 antibody for rheumatoid arthritis for the Chinese market.[8] In 2013, WuXi AppTec formed a joint venture with the global clinical contract research organization PRA International (now called PRA Health Sciences) to build a clinical research business in China.[9]

In 2014, WuXi AppTec opened a new biologics biosafety testing facility in Suzhou. In the same year, WuXi AppTec acquired XenoBiotic Laboratories, Inc. (XBL), a contract research organization with 27 years of operation that provides bioanalytical, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetic services to the pharmaceutical, animal health, and agrochemical industries.[10]

In 2015, the company launched the subsidiary WuXi NextCODE following the acquisition of NextCODE Health, a bioinformatics startup company which emerged from the Icelandic firm deCODE genetics in 2013.[11]

In 2015, WuXi AppTec completed its merger with WuXi Merger Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of New WuXi Life Science Limited. As a result of the merger, New WuXi Life Science Limited acquired the company in a cash transaction valued at approximately US$3.3 billion.[12] In 2016, WuXi STA opened a new campus in Changzhou[13] and operations in San Diego. In the same year, WuXi AppTec acquired Crelux GmbH, a structure-based drug discovery provider based in Munich, Germany.[14] In 2017, WuXi AppTec acquired HD Biosciences (HDB), a biology focused preclinical drug discovery contract research organization (CRO).[15]

In January 2024, WuXi AppTec's share price fell on news that the United States Congress had introduced legislation to block any federal government contracts with the company due to national security concerns.[16] [17] [18] The concerns stem from allegations, denied by the company, that it has worked closely with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as a part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s military-civil fusion strategy.[19] Members of the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party subsequently called for sanctions against WuXi AppTec.[20] WuXi AppTec denied any affiliation with the CCP and PLA and launched a lobbying campaign in the US in response.[21] According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of State, and Director of National Intelligence, WuXi AppTec transferred US intellectual property to the PLA without consent.[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company Profile/ leadership . WuXi AppTec . 29 March 2021 . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415075252/https://www.wuxiapptec.com/about/leadership . live .
  2. Web site: Company Profile/ History . WuXi AppTec . 29 March 2021 . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415082023/https://www.wuxiapptec.com/about/history . live .
  3. Web site: Our History . WuXi AppTec . 26 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231222013916/https://www.wuxiapptec.com/about/history . live .
  4. Web site: Nagaraj. Amulya. Shen. Samuel. WuXi to acquire U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company. 4 January 2008. reuters.com. 3 January 2024. 7 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207200947/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-wuxi-acquisition-idUKPEK23688220080104/. live.
  5. Web site: 29 March 2019. Our History. 24 June 2020. WuXi AppTec. 17 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617124529/https://www.wuxiapptec.com/about/history. live.
  6. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/wuxi-acquires-chinese-clinical-cros-medkey-and-jiecheng/ WuXi Acquires Chinese Clinical CROs MedKey and Jiecheng
  7. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/wuxi-pharmatech-acquires-abgent-a-leading-producer-of-biological-research-reagents WuXi PharmaTech Acquires Abgent, a Leading Producer of Biological Research Reagents
  8. https://www.biospectrumasia.com/news/28/1330/medimmune-wuxi-form-joint-venture.html MedImmune, WuXi form joint venture
  9. http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/wuxi_and_pra_form_chinese_joint_venture_458040 WuXi and PRA form Chinese joint venture
  10. https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/wuxi-pharmatech-acquires-xenobiotic-labs WuXi PharmaTech acquires XenoBiotic Labs
  11. News: Fidler . Ben . 23 October 2013 . DeCode Spinout, NextCode Health, Launches With $15M From Arch, Polaris . 24 June 2020 . Xconomy . Boston . 27 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200627152110/https://xconomy.com/boston/2013/10/23/decode-spinout-nextcode-health-launches-15m-arch-polaris/ . live .
  12. https://www.conyers.com/publications/view/conyers-advises-new-wuxi-life-science-ltd-in-connection-with-us-3-3-billion-buyout/ Conyers advises New WuXi Life Science Ltd. in connection with US$3.3 billion buyout
  13. https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/wuxi-apptec-s-sta-subsidiary-opens-new-campus-in-changzhou-/ WuXi AppTec's STA Subsidiary Opens New Campus In Changzhou
  14. https://biopharma-asia.com/sections/wuxi-apptec-acquire-crelux-gmbh/ WuXi Apptec acquire Crelux GmbH
  15. https://www.centerwatch.com/articles/14195 WuXi AppTec acquires HD Biosciences
  16. News: 2024-01-29 . WuXi Bio Denies Military Ties After Shares Slumped on US Bill . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129154426/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-29/wuxi-bio-denies-military-ties-after-shares-slumped-on-us-bill . 2024-01-29 . 2024-01-30 . . en.
  17. News: January 28, 2024 . WuXi AppTec Shares Continue Slide After Company Calls U.S. Draft Bill Findings Inaccurate . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129002459/https://www.wsj.com/world/china/wuxi-apptec-says-u-s-draft-bill-findings-against-company-not-accurate-350e054f . January 29, 2024 . January 29, 2024 . The Wall Street Journal.
  18. News: February 2, 2024 . WuXi Company Shares Tumble on U.S. Bill Aimed at Chinese Biotech . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201195835/https://www.wsj.com/world/china/wuxi-apptec-related-shares-tumble-on-proposed-u-s-bill-aimed-at-chinese-biotech-companies-a2d1a5ab . February 1, 2024 . February 2, 2024 . The Wall Street Journal.
  19. Web site: Cheung . Sunny . Hope . Arran . Mattis . Peter . February 9, 2024 . Red Genes: Assessing WuXi AppTec's Ties to the Party-Army-State in China . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210082746/https://jamestown.org/program/red-genes-assessing-wuxi-apptecs-ties-to-the-party-army-state/ . 2024-02-10 . 2024-02-11 . . en-US.
  20. News: Martina . Michael . February 12, 2024 . US lawmakers call for sanctions on China's WuXi AppTec biotech firm . February 12, 2024 . Reuters.
  21. Web site: Chinese pharma group lobbies against US biotech crackdown . subscription . 2024-03-20 . . 2024-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240319045846/https://www.ft.com/content/e6358d2a-2d2c-4f80-80b7-864e2d754fd4 . live .
  22. News: March 28, 2024 . China's WuXi AppTec shared US client's data with Beijing, US intelligence officials told senators . March 28, 2024 . Reuters.

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