(Yicai Global) Oct. 13 -- Zhejiang Huge Leaf Co. [SHA:600226], formerly Zhejiang Shenghua Biok Biology Co., signed an L-alanine technology patent transfer agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Microbiology yesterday. The two parties will jointly invest to set up a biological medicine laboratory.

They have signed relevant contracts on the transfer of technology and establishment of the lab, Zhejiang Huge Leaf said.

Under the agreement, the 20-year licensing fee for the Institute of Microbiology's L-alanine bacteria patented technology is USD4.26 million (CNY28 million). The group said that acquiring the patent will help it optimize its product structure, improve the efficiency of its existing equipment and enhance the profitability of its assets.

As a surfactant of basic substance, L-alanine is used in facial cleansers, shower gels, shampoos, toothpastes and hand sanitizers. L-alanine is one of the nine kinds of flavor enhancers approved by the state and can be used for various kinds of alcoholism fighting and liver protection medications and health care products, Zhejiang Huge Leaf said.

The jointly established lab will research and develop biological agents, and design and develop antiviral drugs, vaccines and immune enhancers while accelerating the industrialization of results. In the next five years, the lab will focus on developing monoclonal antibodies to fight canine parvovirus and a Zika adenovirus vaccine.