Pudong emerges as world-class hub for biomedical innovation

Zhangjiang Gene Island in Pudong New Area. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

The biomedical industry in Pudong New Area is rapidly evolving into a world-class industrial cluster, marked by leading innovation outcomes and pioneering institutional innovations. This transformation was highlighted at the Pudong New Area Biomedical Industry Innovation and Development Conference on May 22.

During the conference, the Pudong New Area Science and Technology Commission revealed that this year, the district has witnessed three innovative drugs receive approval to launch in the market, with an additional 16 new drugs currently in the application phase. In total, Pudong has secured approval for 24 domestically produced innovative drugs to enter the market.

In 2023, the revenue of biomedical industry in Pudong reached 378.1 billion yuan ($52.17 billion), constituting 40 percent of the city's total. The district is developing distinctive zones dedicated to the biomedical industry, including the Zhangjiang Innovative Drug Industry Base, the Zhangjiang Medical Device Industry Base, and the Zhangjiang Cell and Gene Industry Park. Plans are underway to provide 2.2 million square meters of standard factory buildings for biomedical manufacturing by the end of 2025.

At the conference, Pudong's latest biomedical innovations in 2024 were unveiled, showcasing newly approved products such as KaiXing Life's CAR-T cell therapy Zevokiorun Injection (SaikaiZe®), Kozhou Pharmaceutical's domestically produced MEK inhibitor Tunlametinib Capsules (Keluping®), and Beierda Pharmaceutical's third-generation EGFR inhibitor Rizitinib Mesylate Capsules (Ruibida®).

Moreover, a collaborative agreement was signed between Pudong New Area and the Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center to establish the Shanghai Clinical Innovation Transformation Research Institute. This institute aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of clinical research and outcome transformation in the city, with a focus on promoting clinical innovation outcome transformations and clinical research services.

Additionally, Pudong New Area and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine jointly launched the Zhangjiang Clinical Research and Collaborative Innovation Center and the Zhangjiang New Drug Discovery and Clinical Transformation Integration Platform. These initiatives underscore a shared commitment to advancing clinical research and drug discovery within the region, further solidifying Pudong New Area's position as a hub for biomedical innovation and excellence.

Source: Thepaper.cn