The opening ceremony of the Guangdong Chiral Drug Engineering Laboratory (Zhongshan Center) was held on May 28.[Photo by Miao Xiaojian]

Guangdong Chiral Drug Engineering Laboratory (Zhongshan Center) was inaugurated at Guangdong Hebo Pharmaceutical Co Ltd on May 28. This is CDEL's second center in Guangdong following the establishment of the Shenzhen Center at Southern University of Science and Technology.

CDEL was led by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The lab is under the watchful guidance of the Academic Board, consisting of 6 academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the US' National Academy of Sciences (NAS). It is an important platform regarding the application of scientific research results and local cooperation promotion.

Hu Wenhao, Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SYSU, announced that "CDEL will be a great research platform for medical and pharmaceutical universities and enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It will further enhance the scientific application level of SYSU and actualize the win-win progress of universities and local socio-economic development."

Shanghai Hebo Pharmaceutical Technology Co Ltd was founded in 2009, and it settled in Tsuihang New District in 2013. It has been engaged in research and production of first generic drugs and original new drugs. Hebo invested 100 million yuan into the construction of a preparation and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production workshop in compliance with GMP requirements, with an area of 10,000 square meters.

On the basis of actively researching and developing original new drugs, Hebo has adopted a reciprocal university-enterprise cooperation and innovation mode. These activities have allowed it to facilitate pilot tests and the industrialization of research achievements.

In order for a successful inauguration and operation of the Zhongshan Center, Hebo has invested various resources including sites, equipment, and personnel. Hebo is not stopping there as it has additional plans to keep investing into the future. So far, a modernized quality inspection center with world-class imported equipment and a 2,000 square meter API workshop equipped with small-scale test, pilot test, and large-scale production synthesis facilities plus sterilized production areas have been built.