Sinovac Biotech Co. Ltd., Sinovac's Beijing Subsidiary, Obtains High-Tech Enterprise Status
Monday March 9, 2009, 8:00 am EDT
BEIJING, March 9 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NYSE Alternext US: SVA), a leading developer and provider of vaccines in China, announced today that the Chinese government, led by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation, jointly granted the Company's operating subsidiary, Sinovac Biotech Co. Ltd.(Sinovac Beijing), high-tech enterprise status. According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China, Sinovac Beijing has received recognition to benefit from a 15 percent tax rate, down from a 25 percent tax rate. Sinovac Beijing will benefit from the lower tax rate for a three-year validation period, covering 2008, 2009 and 2010. Currently, all benefits of Sinovac are sourced from Sinovac Beijing
According to the China Banking Regulatory Commission Guiding Opinions Number 94, companies with high-tech status are eligible for numerous potential benefits including, preferential treatment in obtaining other support from the government, competitive commercial bank loans and subsidized interest.
Mr. Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO of Sinovac Biotech Ltd., commented, "Receipt of high-tech enterprise status reflects Sinovac's continued strength and progress in fundamental areas such as the research and development and vaccine commercialization. As a high-tech enterprise, Sinovac is poised to benefit from substantially increased government support that provides us with financial flexibility as we maintain solid growth. We are very pleased to be granted this esteemed status and are well positioned to continue to build shareholder value."
About High-Tech Enterprise Status
High-tech enterprise status is awarded by the Chinese government to companies that consistently invest in new product development, and generate substantial revenues from their proprietary patented or innovative products. In this way, the Chinese government encourages domestic and foreign investment in advanced technologies, and has created a series of preferential tax policies to stimulate and promote the production of high-tech products, the provision of high-tech related services and technology transfers into and within China. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly promulgated the Measures For the Recognition and Administration of New and High-Tech Enterprises, which clearly specify the requirements for the recognition and administration of high-tech enterprises.
About Sinovac
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac's commercialized vaccines include Healive® (hepatitis A), Bilive® (combined hepatitis A and B), Anflu® (influenza) and Panflu(TM) (H5N1). Sinovac is currently developing a Universal Pandemic Influenza vaccine and Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tangshan Yian is currently conducting field trials for the first domestically-developed inactivated animal rabies vaccines. Additional information about Sinovac is available on its website,
http://www.sinovac.com . To be added to our distribution list, please email:
info@sinovac.com.
For more information, please contact:
Helen G. Yang
Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
Tel: +86-10-8289-0088 x9871
Fax: +86-10-6296-6910
Email: info@sinovac.com
Investors/Media:
Stephanie Carrington/Janine McCargo
The Ruth Group
Tel: +1-646-536-7017/7033
Email: scarrington@theruthgroup.com About SINOVAC
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SINOVAC) is a China-based global biopharmaceutical company, with a mission of "supply vaccines to eliminate human diseases", the company specializes in the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of vaccines and related biological products that protect against human infectious diseases.
The company's diversified portfolio includes vaccines for influenza, viral hepatitis, varicella, Hand-Foot-Mouth disease (HFMD), poliomyelitis, pneumococcal disease, etc., of which 3 vaccines have been prequalified by WHO, including inactivated hepatitis A vaccine Healive®, Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine (sIPV), and varicella vaccine.
SINOVAC has a leading edge in developing vaccines to combat infectious disease outbreaks and was among the first to initiate R&D during major public health emergencies, including SARS, H5N1, H1N1, and COVID-19. The company developed the world's first inactivated SARS vaccine (Phase I completed), China's first H5N1 influenza vaccine (Paneflu®), the world's first H1N1 influenza vaccine (Panflu.1®), and CoronaVac®, the most widely used inactivated COVID-19 vaccine globally.
Beyond its marketed portfolio, the company is advancing a robust pipeline that includes combination vaccines,recombinant protein vaccines and next-generation platforms such as mRNA technologies and antibodies.
With a long-standing commitment to innovation and global health, SINOVAC is expanding its global footprint by strengthening partnerships with research institutions, international organizations, and local partners. Through broader market presence, technological cooperation, and localized production, the company aims to accelerate vaccine development and supply, enhance regional access to high-quality products, and better address unmet medical needs while improving preparedness for future pandemics.
For more information, please see the Company’s website at www.sinovac.com.
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