Jiaqian Medical Breaks New Ground in Sepsis Treatment with Integrated Multi-Target Clearance and Real-Time Monitoring Blood Purification Technology

Bloodstream Infections and Sepsis Have Become the Hidden "Killers" in Clinical Medicine.

Globally, the annual incidence of these two diseases has reached 20 million cases, with mortality rates second only to heart disease and cancer. The situation in China is equally grim. Statistics show that there are approximately 4.5 million new cases of sepsis in China each year, of which 2.2 million progress to severe sepsis or septic shock, resulting in a mortality rate as high as 60%. Sepsis not only accounts for 40% of total expenditures in intensive care units but also contributes to 50% of all hospital inpatient deaths, with its treatment costs comprising more than 40% of total ICU spending.

However, there is still a lack of effective clinical treatment protocols for sepsis, with management primarily relying on antibiotics to control infection and symptomatic therapy. Due to improper antibiotic stewardship, widespread overuse and misuse have led to a 20%–30% annual increase in drug-resistant strains, resulting in a twofold rise in the incidence of bloodstream infections and septicemia over the past decade.

High incidence, high mortality, and exorbitant treatment costs constitute the three major challenges characterizing sepsis care. Across society, there is an urgent demand for new technologies and products capable of effectively reducing sepsis-related mortality. In the face of this severe challenge,Suzhou Jiaqian Medical Device Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Jiaqian Medical”)Leveraging its expertise in blood purification technology, it has introduced a novel solution for the treatment of sepsis.

Sepsis is a severe systemic inflammatory response triggered by factors such as infection and trauma, which leads to secondary injury of tissues and organs, constituting a serious clinical syndrome. Clinically, septic shock caused by sepsis is the most common cause of death among patients in intensive care units.

Meanwhile, with the widespread use of antibiotics, sepsis caused by infections with opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia coli is on the rise. Although the innate immune system can recognize pathogen components, such as lipopolysaccharides, through pattern recognition mechanisms, thereby activating immune cells and releasing cytokines to clear the pathogens, the large amount of inflammatory cytokines released during this process and the apoptosis of immune cells are also important mechanisms leading to sepsis and septic shock.

Although current experiments have confirmed that the massive release of inflammatory cytokines and immune cell apoptosis are positively correlated with mortality, and that clearing these inflammatory factors from the blood can significantly reduce mortality, antibiotic monotherapy for sepsis fails to effectively improve clinical symptoms or reduce mortality. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any specific therapeutic agents for sepsis.

Against this backdrop, the global pharmaceutical and medical device industry is actively exploring new therapeutic technologies and approaches, with blood purification technology emerging as a rapidly developing new field. China is still in the early stages of development in this area, with significant gaps in patented technological products, thus presenting favorable opportunities for the development of proprietary technologies and products.

To address this issue, Jiaqian Medical was established in 2017 against the backdrop of overseas talent returning to China to start businesses. The company focuses on overcoming the challenges in treating severe infections.Development of blood purification technologies for the removal of pathogenic endotoxins, adsorption-based clearance of pathogens and viruses entering the bloodstream, mitigation of inflammatory cytokine storms induced by pathogens and endotoxins, and research and development of miniaturized nano-optoelectronic biosensors, developing, manufacturing, and promoting blood purification equipment, including blood purifiers for severe septic shock.

In recent years, the application of continuous blood purification has extended far beyond the field of nephrology to include severe trauma, infection, sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), burns, and acute pancreatitis, becoming a critical intervention in the management of critically ill patients.

Since its inception, Jiaqian Medical recognized the value and application potential of blood purification technology in the treatment of sepsis, committing itself to research in this field. The company assembled a team comprising PhDs with overseas backgrounds in bioengineering, critical care medicine, and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as entrepreneurs with startup experience, thereby achieving a fusion of global expertise and local experience.

Both the team’s CTO and Chief Scientist rank among the top tier in the field of biopharmaceutical R&D, with substantial technical expertise. The CTO boasts a rich academic and practical background. He graduated with a degree in Clinical Medicine from the Second Military Medical University and previously served as a physician, giving him deep insight into real-world clinical needs. At the age of 30, he pursued studies in Preventive Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in the United States, where he gained extensive knowledge of infectious diseases. Following his graduation, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Virginia for ten years, focusing on tumor molecular pathology and hematology. He possesses not only comprehensive knowledge of oncology but also a thorough understanding of blood circulation, blood components, and the immune cells contained within them, accumulating significant technical and practical experience in related therapeutic areas.

The Chief Scientist graduated from Peking University with a degree in Pharmacy and subsequently pursued advanced studies at the University of Maryland, specializing in pharmaceutical sciences. He has long been dedicated to the research and development of biopharmaceuticals and bioassay reagents, accumulating extensive technical expertise. Leveraging the Chief Scientist’s profound background in pharmacy, along with a multidisciplinary team of professionals spanning critical care medicine, bioengineering, and other fields, Jiaqian Medical has successfully established a robust technology platform. This platform not only facilitates the effective integration of numerous advanced technologies and accelerates their translation into practical applications, but also fosters continuous innovation and the development of novel technological solutions.

Furthermore, the team’s professionals with expertise in law, economics, engineering, and other fields provide comprehensive support for the company’s operations, management, and development.

Through comprehensive team collaboration, Jiaqian Medical has clarified its development direction—Develop composite products that integrate multiple technologies to achieve comprehensive treatment ranging from pathogens to downstream inflammatory responses, thereby addressing systemic issues in patients with severe infections.This composite product not only enhances therapeutic efficacy but also streamlines clinical workflows, thereby avoiding complications such as complex tubing connections associated with the use of multiple products.

This strategic choice has also enabled the team to achieve significant breakthroughs in the field of blood purification technology.

From a product perspective, Jiaqian Medical has developed a blood purification device for severe septic shock, which can effectively reduce mortality in sepsis patients by clearing pathogens, endotoxins, and inflammatory factors from the blood. This innovative product not only fills a domestic gap in this field but also provides new insights and approaches for the global treatment of sepsis.

The product employs composite clearance and real-time monitoring technologies, offering significant advantages over similar products on the market. Traditional anti-infective drugs can only inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria but cannot directly remove harmful substances from the blood. The CytoSorbents adsorption column utilizes the molecular sieve principle of materials to clear only proteins and inflammatory factors of specific sizes; the Toraymyxin adsorption column binds exclusively to endotoxins; the Jafron adsorption column non-specifically clears various proteins in the blood; and the Aethlon adsorption column primarily targets viruses. In contrast, the Jiaqian blood purifier can simultaneously remove bacteria, viruses, fungi, endotoxins, and inflammatory factors, achieving comprehensive blood purification.

It is worth noting that during the research and development process, Suzhou Jiaqian Medical achieved multiple experimental results, validating the product's efficacy.

Experimental results from blood purification using nano-bio-optoelectronic sensors for pathogens, endotoxins, and cytokines demonstrated a specific pathogen clearance rate of up to 90%, a specific endotoxin clearance rate of 90%, and a specific IL-6 cytokine clearance rate as high as 95%.

Furthermore, the device can monitor bacterial load in blood in real time, detecting microfluidic samples with concentrations as low as 10 bacteria/mL, and achieving protein detection sensitivity in the nanogram to picogram range. In ultraviolet (UV) blood purification experiments conducted at specific wavelengths and irradiance powers, the bacterial clearance rate increased progressively over time, reaching 97% after 150 minutes. Meanwhile, blood purification experiments using electromagnetic waves and ultrasound at specific frequencies also yielded favorable results: colony counts in animal blood decreased by 72.6%, 87.7%, and 76% at frequencies of 30 Hz, 90 Hz, and 120 Hz, respectively, while a 30-minute ultrasound treatment reduced colony counts by 79%.

These experimental achievements not only demonstrate the technical feasibility but also lay a solid foundation for further product optimization and clinical application. Currently, Suzhou Jiaqian Medical has implemented a comprehensive patent strategy and holds multiple patented technology certifications, including U.S. patents, Chinese invention patents, and PCT international patents, thereby establishing robust technical barriers for the company.

Leveraging its technological expertise, Jiaqian Medical has established a comprehensive product portfolio.

The company positions itself around specialized blood purification, dedicating itself to the research and development of multiple product series to meet diverse medical needs. Recognizing that the escalating challenge of microbial resistance will render antibiotics ineffective—a thorny issue in the medical field—the company has developed new products specifically targeting drug-resistant bacteria, in addition to its existing offerings for severe septic shock. These innovations aim to reduce biomarkers associated with drug-resistant bacteria during infection.

In the field of oncology therapy, Jiaqian Medical has also demonstrated its R&D strength by developing products suitable for use in tumor surgeries. This product can effectively capture circulating tumor cells that may lead to metastasis, thereby reducing the risk of tumor spread. Another product is developed targeting tumor extracellular vesicles, cutting off the signal-mediated pathways of tumor metastasis by capturing microvesicles, preventing tumor cells from attacking immune cells, and thus enhancing patients' immunity.

Furthermore, Jiaqian Medical plans to expand its technology into the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus.

Currently, Jiaqian Medical’s product for severe septic shock has completed R&D and animal testing, and is entering the clinical liaison phase. Products related to drug-resistant bacteria and tumors are still in the experimental stage.

In the future, the company also plans to establish R&D laboratories in biomedicine hubs such as San Diego, USA, to collaborate and exchange ideas with top international scientific talent, thereby accelerating product development. In terms of market expansion, the company intends to use the domestic market as its starting point, penetrating the hospital sector through professional channels. Meanwhile, in the international market, Jiaqian Medical will partner with world-class blood purification equipment manufacturers to customize consumables according to their machine models. By leveraging these partners’ mature distribution channels to expand into end-user markets, Jiaqian Medical will capitalize on its core strengths in consumable R&D while benefiting from its partners’ brand influence and channel resources, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for both parties.