Sinovac Biotech Ltd, a leading developer and provider of vaccines in China, has initiated development of a vaccine human enterovirus 71, EV 71, which causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (or HFMD). In collaboration with China the CDC, Sinovac will be supplied with epidemiology study results from the outbreak area, which will facilitate the company's vaccine research and development initiatives.

Weidong Yin, president and CEO, commented, "Outbreaks of HFMD have occurred in many countries since the 1970s. The disease has increasingly become a threat not only in China, but also in neighbouring countries. Since no vaccine is currently available to protect our children, we believe that, as a leading vaccine developer in China, it is our responsibility to engage in the development of a vaccine against EV71. We anticipate that this product has the potential to become another flagship product once it is developed and commercialized similar to Healive."

Enterovirus 71, or EV71, causes Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (or HFMD) among children.

Sinovac Biotech is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases.