A joint research initiative to study the efficacy of groundbreaking anti-tumor products for breast cancer and prostate cancer was launched in Hong Kong Thursday.

The collaborative study, conducted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and CK Life Sciences International Holdings Inc., will also establish the first-ever pharmacogenomic and pharmacogenetic database for the Chinese population.

With the governmental Innovation and Technology Commission and CK Life Sciences each providing half of the 6.5 million Hong Kong dollars (US$ 833,000) funding, and HKUST providing its scientific expertise, the research program will be carried out over a period of two and a half years.

The efficacy of CK Life Sciences' anti-tumor products and their immune-enhancing effects will be studied in the first part of the joint research.

The experts of HKUST will also help establish a pharmacogenetic database for the Chinese people to identify the panel of genes involved.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)