New Drugs Compete at CIIE, Unveiling a Wave of Innovative Therapeutic Solutions

Reporter Tang Wenjia

Witnessing the "Chinese Solution" in the Development of Hematology: At the 4th CIIE, China's First Large-scale Medical Humanities Documentary on Hematology, "Innovation and Breakthrough – The History of the Development of Hematology in China," Was Premiered. The Film Systematically Reviews the Important Journey of Innovation and Breakthrough by Several Generations of Researchers Over More Than 40 Years of the Development of Hematology in China, Leaving Many Medical Professors Deeply Moved.

Fighting the disease, through thousands of difficulties and dangers, where is the dawn? At the fourth CIIE gathering cutting-edge innovations from around the globe, many new treatment solutions have emerged.

Life-Saving Anti-Cancer Drugs Accelerate Implementation

Data shows that the total population of people aged 60 and above in China has reached 260 million. People aged 60 and above are a high-risk group for cancer. For instance, multiple myeloma, the second most common malignant tumor in the hematologic system, has an incidence rate of approximately 1.6/100,000 in China, posing a threat to the health of the elderly population.

At this year's CIIE, Sanofi's heavyweight product in the multiple myeloma field – the new-generation CD38 monoclonal antibody Sarclisa – has garnered significant attention. By specifically binding to CD38, an immunotherapy target highly expressed on the surface of myeloma cells, it induces myeloma cell death, thereby exerting a unique anti-myeloma effect. Professor Huang Xiaojun from Peking University People's Hospital stated, "In recent years, due to the continuous emergence of various transformative products such as CD38 monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T, patients are living longer with an improved quality of life."

Pfizer, with over 170 years of history, is also debuting three major innovative oncology products at the CIIE: Lorlatinib, Sugemalimab, and Degarelix Acetate Injection, offering new hope in treatment for many lung cancer and prostate cancer patients in China. Jean-Christophe Pointeau, President of Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group, China, stated that while focusing on innovation and accelerating the introduction of global innovative drugs into China, Pfizer will actively explore new cooperation models with local innovative pharmaceutical companies.

Innovative Therapies to Combat Cardiovascular Risks

Although cancer is frightening, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in China and globally according to statistical data, and it can strike suddenly and be fatal. Therefore, the debut of Novartis' groundbreaking cholesterol-lowering drug Inclisiran at the CIIE has drawn significant attention.

This drug is the world's first innovative medication to utilize the siRNA (small interfering RNA) mechanism to lower LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels. After the initial treatment, a second injection is administered after three months, and thereafter, patients only need two subcutaneous injections per year to achieve lipid-lowering effects, with the duration of action lasting up to half a year.

Statistics from the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases show that the number of people with high blood lipid levels in China has reached 400 million, and about 80% of cardiovascular high-risk patients with dyslipidemia still fail to achieve the LDL-C target level recommended by guidelines. Persistent elevation of LDL-C is a known trigger for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and also a key modifiable risk factor in preventing high-risk cardiovascular events.

Currently, the majority of patients are treated with statins combined with PCSK9 inhibitors, typically requiring subcutaneous injections every two weeks or once a month. The innovative mechanism of siRNA therapy can help patients achieve lipid management more conveniently. Reportedly, Inclisiran received EU marketing approval on December 11, 2020. It has not yet been launched in China but was piloted in Boao Lecheng, China, in July 2021, with the first injection in China administered at Boao Super Hospital.

"Digital" Management of Chronic Diseases, Building a New Life

At the CIIE, new drugs are vying for attention. In this regard, many medical experts have mentioned one point: the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including cancer, are not only related to doctors, patients, and their families but also require the attention and participation of the whole society. In particular, it is necessary to innovate health management models to fundamentally achieve early prevention and early treatment.

Currently, the public's awareness of proactive cancer screening is insufficient, and screening and diagnosis services across regions are relatively fragmented. It is common for patients to be unaware of screening, not seek diagnosis after screening, or not pursue treatment after diagnosis. Meanwhile, there are about 6,000 county-level hospitals in China, serving approximately 900 million people. Only by continuously promoting standardized diagnosis and treatment at the grassroots level and improving the tiered medical system in China can the overall level of cancer prevention and treatment be enhanced.

At the CIIE, Roche China formed strategic alliances with several local innovative companies—MGI Tech Cloud Imaging, Hanwei Intelligent Healthcare, and Shanzhen—to jointly promote the construction of an "Early Detection, Early Diagnosis, Early Treatment" ecosystem for cancer prevention and treatment. Based on accumulated medical big data, they proposed identifying and screening high-risk populations and managing diseases, co-building a patient-centered "Three-Early" ecosystem.

Digital Empowerment in Healthcare: Not Limited to Early Cancer Screening. China has over 30,000 patients with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, as a serious, lifelong, progressive, and disabling demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, can lead to consequences such as paralysis and blindness if not diagnosed in time. The "2021 China Multiple Sclerosis Patient Quality of Life Report" shows that patients have insufficient awareness of the disease, with an average delay of over one year from onset to seeking medical attention; less than half of the patients regularly follow up, excluding those hospitalized due to relapse, and many patients do not receive treatment during remission. At this year's CIIE, Sanofi introduced a digital integrated solution specifically designed for multiple sclerosis patients, providing comprehensive disease management from early diagnosis and treatment, standardized therapy, to regular follow-ups.

"It is very necessary to promote early diagnosis and early treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis. Standardized disease-modifying treatment during the remission period can reduce the incidence of disability and bring better prognosis to patients." Professor Xu Yan from the Department of Neurology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital appealed, hoping that more patients would actively use digital tool platforms to conduct regular follow-ups and chronic disease management, aiming for better control of the condition and an early return to a new life.