Chongqing Kerun Biopharma Wins 'Excellence Award' at Vision China 2023 for Breakthrough rhNGF Eye Drops

On May 18, the Vision China 2023 International Forum on Innovative Development in Visual Health grandly opened in Beijing, the capital of China. Chongqing Kerun Biologic Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Kerun Biologics”) presented its ophthalmic drug, the first breakthrough therapy of its kind in China, at the roadshow. Standing out from more than ten projects, it won the top honor—the “Excellence Award.” The roadshow was jointly organized by Aier·China Eye Valley Innovation Investment Fund, the National Engineering Research Center for Ophthalmology and Optometry Technology, and Ruimengxi Vision Science Fund. It brought together innovative projects related to novel drugs, medical devices, eye care products, and medical services in the field of ophthalmology and optometry. The competition also invited prominent investors from Huagai Capital, Probe Capital, and Ruimengxi Capital, as well as clinical experts such as Professor Gao Hua from the Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, to serve as judges.

 Figure: Award Ceremony at the Vision China 2023 International Forum on Innovative Development in Visual Health

Award Presenter: Professor Gao Hua, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University

Vision China, a premier platform for academic exchange in ophthalmology and optometry, stands as one of the most attended and influential conferences in China within these fields. It brings together experts and scholars from 16 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, alongside nearly 100 exhibiting companies, to jointly explore the future trajectory of eye health. Receiving the Excellence Award underscores the recognition of Kerun Biologics’ outstanding achievements in developing therapeutic biological macromolecule drugs for ophthalmic applications.

The biological macromolecule ophthalmic drug that has received this prestigious honor is “Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor Eye Drops,” a flagship product meticulously developed over many years by Kerun Biologics. This product is the only one of its kind in China and addresses an urgent clinical need; it received implicit clinical trial approval in November 2022 as the first domestic drug indicated for neurotrophic keratitis (NK).

Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is a degenerative corneal disease caused by trigeminal nerve damage, leading to persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulcers, perforation, and vision loss. Each year, 200,000–300,000 patients require corneal transplantation due to this condition, and there is currently a lack of effective pharmacological treatments. After years of dedicated research and overcoming numerous technical challenges, Chongqing Kerun Biologic Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. has successfully developed recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) eye drops, which offer significant therapeutic advantages. Many leading domestic corneal specialists, drawing on their experience with similar agents, unanimously agree that rhNGF has a well-defined mechanism of action and demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating NK. The launch of this product addresses the root cause of this ophthalmic challenge, bringing hope to the NK patient community and providing accessible, optimal treatment options. It represents a milestone in the history of NK management. With substantial potential for clinical application, further expansion of its clinical use is anticipated by many ophthalmology experts, who believe it will make increasingly positive contributions to medical health in the future.

 Figure: Kerun Biologics' Blockbuster Ophthalmic New Drug—Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor Eye Drops

It is reported that Chongqing Kerun Biologic Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. is advancing the registration-related clinical trials of this product in China, having successfully completed dosing of the first cohort of subjects, with no adverse reactions observed among all enrolled participants.

Behind the years of dedication invested in creating a flagship ophthalmic product lies Kerun Biologic’s precise understanding of the biopharmaceutical industry and its deep insight into clinical pain points. Ophthalmic diseases encompass a wide spectrum, affecting a large patient population. The onset and progression of many eye conditions severely impair patients’ quality of life. Beyond the basic need to “see,” there is a strong and essential demand among patients to “see clearly and comfortably.” The development of ophthalmic drugs in China started late and has been hampered by a weak foundation, making it difficult to provide feasible and accessible therapeutic options for the majority of patients. As one of the few innovative pharmaceutical companies in China with a comprehensive portfolio of ophthalmic biologic macromolecule therapeutics, Kerun Biologic remains committed to addressing unmet clinical needs and pain points in ophthalmology. Through dedicated research and continuous accumulation of expertise, the company actively promotes the R&D, industrialization, and commercialization of innovative products, consistently launching high-quality biologic new medicines that are accessible to patients, thereby benefiting patients and giving back to society.

Kerun Biologics completed a tens-of-millions-yuan Series A financing round early this year. The round was exclusively invested by a well-known domestic industrial capital firm, and the proceeds will be primarily used to advance the R&D of multiple innovative drugs in ophthalmology and oncology, as well as to build the company’s innovation platform.

As an innovative platform enterprise focused on the research and development of therapeutic biologics, Chongqing Kerun Biologic Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. has adhered to a differentiation strategy over more than two decades of vigorous development. By pursuing a collaborative innovation path tailored to its unique characteristics, the company has established multiple core technology platforms that are leading in China. It has built a rich and competitive pipeline of biologic macromolecule drug products in therapeutic areas such as ophthalmology and oncology, and continues to launch multiple novel biologics: two biologic drugs have been licensed to a domestic pharmaceutical company, with one Class 1 biologic product pending marketing approval and the other in Phase II clinical trials; one Class 1 novel biologic drug is exclusive in China and is poised for industrialization; one breakthrough therapy-designated ophthalmic product, with its first indication filed exclusively, has entered clinical trials and holds broad market prospects; more than ten novel ophthalmic drugs are at various stages of development; and three blockbuster innovative drugs are about to file for international patents.

Having weathered the capital winter, Kerun Biologic will continue to press forward! The company has launched a new round of financing to accelerate the development of innovative products and realize its commercial value. Looking ahead, Kerun Biologic looks forward to gathering more professional expertise and engaging in in-depth collaboration with industry peers to jointly build an eye health ecosystem, contributing to the rise of “major national innovative drugs” and supporting the “Healthy China” initiative!

Chongqing Kerun Biologic Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. is an innovative platform enterprise dedicated to the development of therapeutic biologics. The company has established leading core technology platforms, including inclusion body refolding, nanobody expression, and long-acting protein design, and has built a highly efficient and stable core technical team, enabling the continuous development of biologic innovations with competitive advantages. Focusing on major disease areas such as ophthalmology and oncology, the company adheres to a differentiated product development strategy guided by clinical needs, providing patients with high-quality, affordable best-in-class and first-in-class biologic drugs. It is committed to becoming a domestic leading innovative pharmaceutical company with full-industry-chain capabilities, primarily focused on the ophthalmology sector.