Chinese Scientist Receives the Debiopharm-CCRF China Award

Lausanne, Switzerland, November 15, 2007 – Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global independent biopharmaceutical development specialist in oncology and serious medical conditions, today presented Chinese scientist Dr KONG Weijia with the “2007 Debiopharm-CCRF China Award” for her outstanding and innovative research work on “Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of berberine : molecular mechanism, clinical application and development of analogs or prodrugs”.

Runners-up, Drs GUO Yue-Wie and SHEN Xu were also recognised for their work on  “Total Synthesis, Structure Modification/Optimization and Pharmacological Studies on Gymnorrhizol, a Potential Lead Compound for treating Diabetes”, as well as Dr DAI Dezai who’s research focused on “A novel endothelin receptor antagonist CPU0213 (Dajisentan): its biological activities relieve pulmonary artery hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases”.

“Innovative research work like Dr Kong’s, Dr Guo’s and Dr Shen’s, stemming from the centuries old Chinese pharmacopoeia, is what we wish to recognise with this Award,” said Kamel Besseghir, CEO of Debiopharm S.A. “There are a lot of drugs on the market that are developed from observations made on local pharmacopoeias, and there is potential for others.”

Debiopharm presented two Awards this year, the “Debiopharm Life Sciences Award” designed to mentor and motivate young innovative European researchers in the field of life sciences and the “JCA Mauvernay Award” aimed to encourage Japanese scientists to make their oncology work available outside Japan.

About Debiopharm Group
Debiopharm Group is a global biopharmaceutical development specialist that in-licenses promising biologics and small molecule drug candidates. Debiopharm develops its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential for out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.

Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm has developed three products with global combined sales in excess of $2.6 billion in 2006.

For more information on Debiopharm Group, please visit: www.debiopharm.com.