Media

HKU to Sign Agreement on Technology Transfer with Yang Sheng Tang Co, Ltd

07 Sep 2001

 

The Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has broken new ground in the search for a vaccine for the hepatitis E virus (HEV). This patented research result will be sold to Yang Sheng Tang, a mainland company based in Hangzhou, China, which will develop the vaccine. This is the first time in Hong Kong that a patented research result, developed by a local university, will be sold to a company. This is also the first time that a Chinese company has bought a patent from a local university.

The hepatitis E virus is very similar to hepatitis A in that they are both transmitted through contaminated food and water. At 25% the death rate of pregnant women who have contracted the hepatitis E virus is relatively high. Currently, there is no vaccine for hepatitis E.

An agreement signing ceremony for technology transfer between HKU and Yang Sheng Tang will be held on Monday, September 10, 2001. Professor Ian Davies, Vice-Chancellor of HKU, and Mr Francis Ho, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, will attend the ceremony. Mr Zhong Shan-shan, President of Yang Sheng Tang, and Professor Victor O K Lee, Director of Versitech Ltd, a technology transfer arm of HKU, will sign the agreement. Professor M H Ng of HKU's Department of Microbiology will give a brief presentation on the HEV project.

Details of the signing ceremony are as follows:
Date: September 10, 2001 (Monday)
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Council Chamber, 8/F Meng Wah Complex, the University of Hong Kong

Members of the Press are cordially invited to attend. A shuttle bus (JL3980) has been arranged to pick up press members from Admiralty MTR station. Press members please wait at the bus stop near Café de Coral of Admiralty Centre (Exit A of Admiralty MTR station). The bus will leave at 2:00pm sharp. For further enquiries, please contact Miss Polo Leung at HKU's External Relations Office at 2859 2600.