SHANGHAI, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: WX), a leading open-access R&D capability and technology platform company serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, with operations in China and the United States, today announced the establishment of a representative office in the Tel Aviv area of Israel.

The new office will promote WuXi's broad platform of integrated R&D services to local customers. It will also collaborate with Pontifax, a leading healthcare-dedicated venture capital firm based in Israel, to invest in promising technologies in Israel, particularly those that can potentially advance WuXi's capabilities.

"We welcome WuXi's presence in Israel and believe the new representative office will be mutually beneficial to WuXi and the Israeli biotech industry," said Tomer Kariv, CEO of Pontifax.

"We are excited to establish a presence in Israel and to contribute to one of the most dynamic healthcare innovation ecosystems in the world," said Dr. Ge Li, chairman and CEO of WuXi PharmaTech. "We value the expertise that Pontifax has developed in Israel's biotech industry and look forward to working closely with them to help many of their portfolio companies and other startup companies. This step advances WuXi's mission of helping entrepreneurs in the global life sciences industry to realize their dreams of developing innovative products to benefit the world's patients."

About WuXi PharmaTech

WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX) is a leading open-access R&D capability and technology platform company serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, with operations in China and the United States. As a research-driven and customer-focused company, WuXi PharmaTech provides pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies with a broad and integrated portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services throughout the drug and medical device R&D process. WuXi PharmaTech's services are designed to help its global partners in shortening the cycle and lowering the cost of drug and medical device R&D. The operating subsidiaries of WuXi PharmaTech are known as WuXi AppTec. Please visit http://www.wuxiapptec.com.

For further information please contact:

Dana Yarden, MD, MBA
Executive Director, Israel Business Development
+972-9-9725617 or +972-54-8085692
dana_yarden@wuxiapptec.com

Ronald Aldridge
Director of Investor Relations
+1-201-585-2048
ron_aldridge@wuxiapptec.com

Aaron Shi
Associate Director of Corporate Communications
+86-21-5046-4362
aaron_shi@wuxiapptec.com

SOURCE WuXi PharmaTech