The Week in Review: Is CRO Consolidation a New Theme?

PPD, Inc., a US-based CRO, agreed to acquire Excel PharmaStudies, a China clinical-trial CRO; the new ChiNext exchange opened and Anhui Anke Biotech rose 195% during its first day of trading; Tianyin Pharma formed an antibiotic JV with Sichuan Mingxin Pharma; Sanofi-Aventis will establish a vitamin JV with Minsheng Pharmaceutical Group; China Medicine Corp. acquired Guangzhou LifeTech Pharma; Simcere Pharma now controls a majority 50.77% of its vaccine subsidiary, Jiangsu Yanshen; Chi-Med bought the remaining 15% of outside ownership in its Hutchison Healthcare JV; Mycenax Biotech of Taiwan reported clinical trial progress on its biosimilar version of etanercept; Sinovac Biotech (NYSE Amex: SVA) received an order for 5.2 million doses of its H1N1 vaccine; and Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai received AAALAC accreditation for its preclinical testing facility. More details... Stock Symbol: (NSDQ: PPDI) (300009) (NYSE Alternext: TPI) (NYSE: SNY) (OTCBB: CHME) (NYSE: SCR) (AIM: CHM) (GreTai: 4726)