Singapore: Taiwan-based ScinoPharm has entered into a strategic collaboration with Raffles PharmaTech to manufacture "Celecoxib," a non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory analgesic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

The deal will see collaborated production of celecoxib with Raffles being responsible for the R&D, and ScinoPharm's Changshu plant being responsible for the manufacturing.

"ScinoPharm (Changshu) is among the first batch of API plants built in compliance with the regulations after the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) announced the new version of the GMP. In order to accelerate the momentum of the Changshu plant, ScinoPharm has simultaneously sought self-development and license-in models to quickly improve capacity utilization and accelerate the growth," said ScinoPharm CEO Dr Yung Fa Chen.

Celecoxib is effective in treating a number of common acute pain types, including acute tissue injury and postoperative pain. It is also effective in treating chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

This drug does not inhibit physiological enzymes that have a protective effect on the gastrointestinal tract, thus greatly reducing the risk of adverse reactions in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the forecast from Global Data, celecoxib sales in the US are expected to reach $500 million in 2018.