Chi-Med, Nestle to form JV for plant-based products

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd. (LSE:HCM) and the Nestle Health Science S.A. subsidiary of Nestle S.A. (SIX:NESN) are forming a 50/50 JV, Nutrition Science Partners Ltd., to develop and commercialize worldwide plant-derived natural products for gastrointestinal indications. The deal includes Hutchinson's HMPL-004, an oral inflammatory cytokine inhibitor that is slated to enter Phase III testing for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease early next year. ...