ScinoPharm,
an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and contract research and
manufacturing (CRAM) service provider, will provide commercial manufacturing
service of vilazodone hydrochloride active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for
Clinical Data, Inc.’s Viibryd™, a new drug entity recently approved by the FDA.
 

Viibryd
is a novel drug for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder
(MDD). The drug’s dual mechanism of action and side effect profile
differentiates itself from other antidepressants. Use of Viibryd did not cause
significant weight gain or interference with sexual function as seen with some
rival drugs.

“ScinoPharm
is proud of the fruitful partnership with Clinical Data by being its sole API
supplier of vilazodone hydrochloride during Viibryd’s launch. Beginning from
process research through timely development and optimization of long and
complicated synthetic processes, we have established a win-win
partnership,” said Dr. Jo Shen, President and CEO of ScinoPharm.

In
relationship similar to the one with Clinical Data, ScinoPharm partners with
other leading pharmaceutical companies for custom contract services from
clinical materials to commercial.  So far the company has handled more
than 60 NCE projects, with 4 currently in phase III and 3 having already been
approved for launch.

ScinoPharm
is set to expand its CRAM services through its new GMP plant in Changshu, China,
which is expected to be operational in Q3 2011. The Changshu plant will expand
the company’s overall R&D and production capabilities to capture the
business opportunities in the rapidly expanding Asian pharmaceutical market.