Apexigen, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, and Gansu Duyiwei Biological Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (GDBP), have entered into a collaboration to grant an exclusive license to GDBP to develop and commercialize APX004 in China.   

APX004 is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against VEGFR2 for the treatment of certain cancers and angiogenic diseases.  Under this agreement, GDBP will have an exclusive license and sole responsibility to research, develop and commercialize APX004 in China.  Apexigen retains all rights to APX004 outside of China and will collaborate with GDBP to advance the development program.  Under the terms of the agreement, Apexigen will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments on the successful achievement of regulatory milestones, and a royalty.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

"The pharmaceutical market in China today is very dynamic.  We are pleased to be partnering with Gansu Duyiwei for the development and commercialization of APX004 in this vibrant market.  We're looking forward to a productive partnership," said Dr. Xiaodong Yang, Apexigen's president and CEO.  

"During the last century, people often said that the century to come will be the biological science century.  The report of a survey from an American marketing research institute, Alt Assets, shows that the prospects for the global biotechnology industry are very promising. The sales revenue for products of the bio-economy, that is, products based on biological science and biotechnology, will exceed 15 trillion US Dollars in 30 years and the bio-economy will outrun the information economy and become the most powerful economic force in the world. The cooperation between Duyiwei and Apexigen will become a developmental milestone for Duyiwei. Based on its efforts, flexible mode of R&D and the continually increased investment on R&D, Duyiwei has the confidence and determination to constantly launch a series of original products in the near future to bring hope to the diseased and improve their quality of living," said Dr. Zhiping Duan, CEO of Gansu Duyiwei.

Apexigen, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of best-in-class antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.  

Gansu Duyiwei Biological Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is located in Kang County, Longnan city , Gansu Province. As the first pharmaceutical company listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange in Gansu Province, the company has developed very fast in recent years.