Viva Shanghai

About Viva Shanghai

Viva Biotech, established in 2008 by founders Feng Mao Hua, Chen Cheney Mao, and Ying Wu, is a drug discovery and manufacturing services provider headquartered in Shanghai, China. The company offers a one-stop platform for biopharmaceutical innovators, covering the entire process from early-stage, structure-based drug research and development (R&D) to commercial manufacturing.

Viva Biotech's business operates through two primary models: a conventional cash-for-service (CFS) model and a unique equity-for-service (EFS) model. Under the CFS model, which generates the majority of its revenue, the company provides comprehensive contract research organization (CRO) services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients globally. These services include structure-based drug discovery (SBDD), medicinal chemistry, biologics R&D, and computer-aided drug design. Through its subsidiary, Langhua Pharma, Viva also offers contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services, handling chemical, manufacturing, and control (CMC) processes from preclinical to commercial stages.

The EFS model distinguishes Viva Biotech by allowing it to invest in high-potential, early-stage biotechnology startups. Through its investment arm, Viva BioInnovator, the company provides its R&D services in exchange for equity, creating a collaborative ecosystem and addressing unmet medical needs. This dual-model approach provides a steady cash flow from service contracts while enabling high-yield returns from strategic investments in incubated companies. In May 2025, the company launched an AI-Driven Drug Discovery (AIDD) platform to accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutics.