Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of vaccines in China, has received the Certificate of Approval to commercialise seasonal flu vaccine in Mexico by the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) of the Mexico Ministry of Health. The certificate of commercial approval is valid from April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2018.

Dr Weidong Yin, chairman, president and CEO of Sinovac, said, “This is a great milestone for Sinovac as we look to continue expanding our commercial efforts worldwide. We are pleased to receive approval to supply Anflu in the Mexican market, which we perceive as a significant opportunity outside of China. We expect to begin sales planning for Mexican market in conjunction with our partner, Laboratorios Imperiales, in the coming days.”

The company filed the application to distribute Anflu in Mexico in 2005, and received the GMP certificate for its seasonal flu and hepatitis A vaccines on August 11, 2011.

Laboratorios Imperiales S.A. de C.V., a biopharmaceutical company operating in Mexico is the exclusive distributor of Sinovac's vaccine products in Mexico, pursuant to a distribution agreement signed in 2005 with its affiliate.

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is focussed on research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases including hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, H5N1 pandemic influenza and mumps, as well as animal rabies vaccine.