properties. Then, a few existing species were eventually located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. With sufficient raw materials, the scientists were able to isolate the active ingredient as (+)-Calanolide A. Since the plant source is relatively rare, a method of total synthesis was developed in 1996 which showed same effectiveness against HIV virus when compared to the original compound. In addition, the samples collected from the trip in March 1992 yielded another positive result. A sister compound (-)-Calanolide B (also known as Costatolide) was isolated from the latex of Calophyllum teysmannii var. innophylloide trees. Sarawak Forestry Department was in collaboration with University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) for sustainable harvest of (-)-Calanolide B. Although Costatolide is less potent than Calanolide A, the yield from raw materials is much higher (20 to 25%) when compared to Calanolide A (0.05%). Therefore, Costatolide had been accepted as replacement for Calanolide A. In June 1993, The Calophyllum Species (Prohibition of Felling and Restriction of Export) Order was issued by the Sarawak state government to ensure adequate supply of the trees for medicinal purposes. In the same year, International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) treaty came into effect with 179 countries as its signatories. However, the United States did not sign the treaty. Therefore, the Sarawak state government set up Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) in 1997 to regulate bioprospecting activities in the state. In 1994, NCI signed a "letter of collection" with Sarawak state government. NCI also partnered with a small American pharmaceutical company named MediChem Research Inc based in Lemont, Illinois to develop the Calanolide compound. In 1995, NCI granted MediChem all rights to develop the compound. Due to lack of funds, Medichem entered a joint venture with Sarawak state government in 1996 where the former provided technical expertise and facilities for Sarawak scientists. Meanwhile, the state government provided further funding for the development of the compound. Sarawak MediChem pharmaceuticals company was then created as a result of the joint venture. Both partners have 50:50 percent stake in all intellectual property rights of the venture. The Sarawak government entered the joint venture through its wholly owned company named Craun Research Sdn Bhd. The company was established in 1993 for research into commercialisation of sago. In December 2006, Craun Research acquired Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals. Craun Research collaborates with various contract research organizations in the drug development, such as Nova Laboratories (under Nova Wellness Group). In