Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co Ltd has become the largest single shareholder of US-based medical care company Saladax Biomedical Inc with an investment of $22.5 million.

Saladax is a private company that develops and markets diagnostic medical tests. The deal is expected to help Fosun Pharmaceutical increase its presence in the medical-diagnosis and personalized-medication sectors.

Shanghai Fosun Long March Medical Science Co Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fosun Pharmaceutical, has obtained the exclusive distribution and manufacturing rights of Saladax’s products in China.

Fosun Pharmaceutical is expanding its overseas business in part via mergers and acquisitions.

In December, Wanbang Biopharma, a subsidiary of Fosun Pharmaceutical, reached an agreement with German company Biotest AG in which Wanbang will sell Biotest's human albumin in the Chinese mainland.

Fosun Pharmaceutical also has set up a plant in the West African nation of Cote d'Ivoire in July with the goal of covering 17 nations and regions in that part of the continent.

At the end of October, Fosun Pharmaceutical Chairman Cheng Qiyu said the company has plan to move its primary research and development to developed markets such as the United States and Europe while strengthening its technology application and clinical trial capability in China. Insiders say its purchase of Saladax is part of that plan.