The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), today (Friday) announced that it has expanded its Biotech Advisory Panel (the Panel) with the appointment of Dr Clinton Lai, Medical Director at Novartis Oncology Asia-Pacific, which is part of Novartis, a global pharmaceutical company.

A brief description of the function of the Panel together with a list of its 17 members is available on the HKEX website.

Dr Lai’s experience includes the development of clinical trial protocols for novel cancer therapies, management of early and late-phase clinical trials, strategic planning, and conducting negotiations with regulatory and health reimbursement authorities in Australasia and Asia-Pacific.  Further details are in the appendix.

As stated in the news release on the formation of the Panel, the Exchange will continue to look to include additional members as appropriate.

APPENDIX – BIOGRAPHY

LAI Clinton

Dr Clinton Lai is Medical Director at Novartis Oncology Asia-Pacific. Novartis is a global pharmaceutical company with a mission to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives.

Following graduation from medical school, Dr Lai underwent training in internal medicine in the United Kingdom followed by specialty certification in medical oncology and pharmaceutical medicine. He began his career in the pharmaceutical industry at Novartis in Australia.  His past and current responsibilities include the development of clinical trial protocols for novel cancer therapies, management of early and late-phase clinical trials, strategic planning and negotiations with regulatory and health reimbursement authorities in Australasia and Asia-Pacific.

His experience in the pharmaceutical industry has given Dr Lai extensive exposure to the regulatory and commercial environments in Asia-Pacific countries and insights into the challenges faced by biotechnology companies that originate in the region. He was instrumental in the regulatory approval of everolimus (Afinitor®) in Australia, the first among Asia-Pacific countries. This experience enables him to formulate appropriate strategies to provide access to novel therapies to treat life-threatening conditions such as cancer in the region.

Dr Lai is an elected member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and its Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine as well as a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine of the United Kingdom.  In addition, he has a Master’s degree in Business Administration by INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Ends