IASO Biologics Wins 2024 Qipu Award for Pharmaceutical Innovation with Eque-cel, China’s First Fully Human Anti-BCMA CAR-T Therapy

We would like to thank all the experts of this year's "Qipu Award" jury for recognizing the innovative CAR-T drug, Ixazomib Injection, and also thank the clinical experts, investors, patients, and all partners who have supported IASO Bio in its commitment to innovation. In recent years, China's R&D capabilities in the CGT innovative drug field have been continuously strengthening, reaching a level that is "on par" with global advanced standards and even "leading" in some aspects. The Ixazomib Injection independently developed by IASO Bio is the world's first CAR-T drug developed using fully human antibody sequences and China’s first CAR-T drug targeting BCMA with full-process autonomous production (including plasmids, viruses, and cells). It effectively fills the gap in engineering and industrial application in this technological field within China. Since receiving approval from the National Medical Products Administration for marketing in June 2023, it has brought significant benefits to patients both domestically and internationally due to its remarkable efficacy and safety.

"Innovation" is the persistent pursuit of all IASO Bio members. Currently, we are not only the first to apply BCMA CAR-T therapy in the field of autoimmune diseases, but also launched the first large-scale randomized controlled Phase III clinical trial of CAR-T cell therapy in China this year, advancing cell therapy towards frontline treatment. I believe that in the near future, IASO Bio will join hands with fellow professionals in the CGT industry to bring more advanced CGT drugs independently developed in China to patients with serious illnesses worldwide, offering them hope for a cure.

China Healthcare Innovation Platform (CHIP, Qipu) was founded in 2014. "Qipu" originates from the poem by Sima Biao of the Western Jin Dynasty: "Bian He lies hidden in obscurity, who can attest to this rare jade?" symbolizing precious jade or extraordinary talent. The China Healthcare Industry Innovation "Qipu Award," which began in 2014, has now reached its tenth year. The "Qipu Award" is an accolade in China's broader health sector aimed at encouraging and recognizing innovative projects with economic and social significance, enhancing commercial and societal value. Upholding principles of fairness, professionalism, and independence, the "Qipu Award" emphasizes the quality of the projects themselves and has thus earned respect and recognition within the healthcare industry, being hailed as the "Oscar Award" of China's medical and healthcare sector.

Equecabtagene Autoleucel Injection (Focuxin)^®) For the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have progressed after at least three prior lines of therapy (including at least one proteasome inhibitor and one immunomodulatory agent), it is the world's first commercially available fully human CAR-T product, China's first independently developed and fully in-house manufactured CAR-T product, and also the first CAR-T product approved in China for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

IASO Bio is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative cell therapies. With a strong foundation in developing hematological tumor cell therapies and antibody drugs, the company has expanded its focus to autoimmune diseases. IASO Bio possesses comprehensive capabilities spanning the entire process from early discovery, clinical development, regulatory submission, to commercial-scale production. The company has over 10 innovative drug candidates at various stages of development. Among them, the injectable Ixcell-CAR (a fully human BCMA CAR-T product) has been approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China and has received authorization from the U.S. FDA to conduct registrational clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Leveraging its robust management team, innovative pipeline, in-house GMP manufacturing, and exceptional clinical development capabilities, IASO Bio aims to deliver transformative and curative therapies, bringing hope of a cure to patients in China and around the world. For more information, please visit the company’s official website: www.iasobio.com or LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/iasobiotherapeutics.