BRIEF—Hangzhou Just Biotherapeutics opens R&D center and GMP manufacturing facility

China-based Hangzhou Just Biotherapeutics (HJB), an organization dedicated to expanding global access to important protein therapeutics, yesterday held the grand opening ceremony for its R&D center and manufacturing facility.

Reviewing the progress of the company at the ceremony, Jonathan Zhao, founder and chief executive of HJB stressed that "HJB has reached another important milestone. This is a great step towards our mission of expanding global access to biotherapeutics. We will further leverage the 3rd-generation biologics platform to develop and manufacture high quality biologics for patients around the world."

Over the past two years, HJB has secured a total of $67 million in financing from Lilly Asia Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Temasek, Taikang, HEDA and other investors, and has grown rapidly. HJB completed the 140,000 sq ft R&D center and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) manufacturing facility which will supply the global market with clinical and commercial product.

JonathanZhao, Jim Thomas and two other former senior executives at biotech giant Amgen co-founded Just Biotherapeutics Inc in Seattle, USA, in 2015. Subsequently, its sister company, HJB, was established in China in August 2016. So far, both companies employ nearly 200 scientists and engineers.