1 September 2014 - SciClone Pharmaceuticals, a US-based, China-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, and its partner BTG have received approval for the registration of DC Bead for the embolisation of malignant hypervascularised tumours, from the China Food and Drug Administration, it was reported on Friday.

Both firms signed a contract providing SciClone with exclusive licensing and distribution rights to DC Bead in China. According to the contract, SciClone will purchase product from BTG at a specified price for sale in the country.

Friedhelm Blobel, SciClone chief executive officer, said, 'Together with our partner BTG, we will now focus our efforts on preparing for the introduction of the product in the Chinese market. Oncology is a core business focus for SciClone, and our sales team and academic marketing liaisons have established high quality relationships with the medical professionals and institutions that specialise in cancer treatment. We believe DC Bead has the potential to be a valuable addition to SciClone's oncology product portfolio.'