Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc., a China-based company that produces Gendicine, a commercialized gene therapy drug for the treatment of cancer, received GMP certification at its newly expanded Ebei plant for its new tablets product line. The GMP certification clears the tablets for mass production and sale.
   
The Ebei plant is Benda’s major revenue contributor having achieved $11.8 million in revenue during the first nine months of 2007, up 55% YTD. The Ebei plant previously produced and distributed medicines in injection vial form. The plant expansion added five new production lines with respective annual capacities of 40 million oral liquid vials, 230 million capsules, 758 million tablets, 500 tons of pills and 20 million bags of granules.
   
On November 26, 2007 the tablets line became the first to receive GMP certification, valid for a 5-year period. The Ebei plant initiated the full production and sale of tablets in late December 2007. The company expects the new tablets line to contribute approximately $1.8 million in revenue in 2008. The four remaining product lines are all under GMP review and the company expects certification in early 2008.
   
“This capacity expansion and addition to Ebei’s product mix has been long-anticipated and represents an important milestone for Benda,” commented Mr. Yiqing Wan, Benda chairman and chief executive officer. “Gendicine has deservedly garnered most of the public’s attention of late, but much of the drug’s future growth will be made possible by the continued success of our stable, profitable product lines. Our investment in the Ebei plant will ultimately yield an even stronger base from which to launch Gendicine into India and beyond.”