Wuxi Pharmatech Inc., of Shanghai, appointed Hua Mu senior vice president of operations and global head of the product development service and partnership business unit.

Nuvilex Inc., of Silver Spring, Md., said partner Austrianova Singapore Pty Ltd., of Singapore, signed a contract to establish regional headquarters and an R&D facility at the Thailand Science Park near Bangkok. The facilities will be used for the encapsulation, using the Cell-in-the-Box technology, of live cancer prodrug-activating cells that are part of Nuvilex’s pancreatic cancer treatment and that will be used in the company’s late-phase trials.

SHANGHAI – After a year of revisions, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) revealed its anticipated new “simple rules” for mergers and acquisitions. The move signals the government’s intentions toward fast-tracking deals that don’t trigger competition issues, but with the caveat that certain conditions apply.

Can-Fire Biopharma Ltd., of Petach Tikva, Israel, was granted Japanese Patent No. 5467872, “Process for the Synthesis of IB-MECA.” The patent covers a method for the chemical synthesis of the A3 adenosine receptor agonist, IB-MECA, the active pharmaceuticals ingredient.

Wuxi Pharmatech Inc., of Shanghai, appointed Hua Mu senior vice president of operations and global head of the product development service and partnership business unit. Mu received his medical degree from West China University of Medical Sciences and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of California at Berkeley.

China Biologic Products Inc., of Beijing, said it completed the repurchase of 2.5 million shares of common stock for $70 million. The company announced in January that it had entered a repurchase agreement with Siu Ling Chan, an individual shareholder of the company, and her spouse Tung Lam, to repurchase 2.5 million shares of its common stock, representing approximately 9.67 percent of the total common stock outstanding on Jan. 27.

SHANGHAI – Bayer AG is buying Dihon Pharmaceutical Group Co. located China’s southwest Yunnan province. Privately held Dihon makes OTC and traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) sold in China and Southeast Asia.

TAIPEI, Taiwan – For Western biopharmaceutical executives seeking an entry point into Asia, Taiwan may be a good gateway. And for Taiwanese innovators in need of outside partners to back still under-the-radar drug candidates: be more aggressive. Those were a few of the messages heard at the second annual Biologics World Taiwan conference here.

HONG KONG – A Chinese biotechnology company is leading a group of investors, including many of its own top executives, in a joint venture to develop a sought-after drug used to regenerate skin cells in burn victims.