Forum on Translational Platforms for Innovative Drug Research: Bridging Basic Science and Drug Development

Apr 04, 2023 15:00 CST Updated 15:00

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the National Conference on Scientific and Technological Innovation, the Congress of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 9th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology: “Scientific and technological innovation is by no means confined to laboratory research; rather, it is imperative to translate scientific and technological achievements into tangible drivers for economic and social development.” “Only by aligning scientific and technological achievements with national needs, public demands, and market requirements, and by accomplishing the ‘triple leap’ from scientific research, through experimental development, to promotion and application, can the true value of innovation be realized and innovation-driven development be achieved.”

With economic development, changes in living environments, and an increasingly aging population structure, global healthcare demand continues to rise, making biopharmaceuticals one of the fastest-growing industries today. The biopharmaceutical industry is a vital sector that integrates modern biotechnology with the research and development, production, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various new drugs. Promoting the translation of its scientific and technological achievements into practical applications is of great significance for China to realize its strategies of becoming a science and technology powerhouse and building a Healthy China.

To establish an efficient dialogue and communication platform bridging basic scientific research and the translation of achievements for innovative drugs, to advance basic scientific research and the translation of outcomes, to enhance the efficiency of such translation, and to promote innovation and development in China’s pharmaceutical industry, the 7th Top 100 Conference andZhangjiang Sci-Tech Investment,Legend CapitalCo-create TogetherForum on the Translation of R&D Achievements for Innovative Drugs,Focusing on “Platform Development in the Early R&D Stage of Innovative Drug Translation” and“Platform Construction Based on the Clinical Translation Stage”: We have specially invited leading figures from the fields of academic research, policy studies, industrial practice, and venture capital to jointly explore and envision platform construction and future development in the translation of innovative drug research achievements.

主k定稿.jpg

I. Forum Highlights:

(I) Building Momentum: Platform Empowerment in the Early R&D Stage

Before a new drug can be successfully developed, two key indicators—safety and efficacy—must be repeatedly validated. Preclinical studies on pharmacodynamics and toxicology in animals play a pivotal prospective and predictive role in determining the success or failure of clinical trials. To help more clients select relatively suitable large-animal models and facilitate preclinical study filings for regulatory approval, industry pioneers have established leading, comprehensive, innovative, flexible, and reliable platforms for large-animal disease models. Meanwhile, the establishment of platforms for technological innovation and translation of scientific achievements in laboratory medicine has also rapidly advanced, aiming to promote the translation of research outcomes from academic institutions, medical facilities, and in vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies, as well as to accelerate the clinical application of new technologies and advancements in this field. In 2022, Legend Capital launched a new fund—the Frontier Biotechnology Fund—focused on investing in seed-stage and very early-stage projects in innovative diagnostic and therapeutic technologies grounded in molecular biology. The fund primarily targets projects involving the translation of scientific achievements from academies and research institutes, startups founded by overseas returnees, and ventures launched by industry leaders. This forum will also bring together representatives from areas including animal model provision, development of testing reagents and methods, process R&D capable of GMP-compliant translation, and preclinical evaluation, to jointly discuss high-quality development.

(II)Shaping: Capacity Building in the Clinical Translation Phase

The advancement of cell and gene therapy represents a milestone in the development of China’s pharmaceutical industry, enabling Chinese innovative drugs to compete on par with global counterparts. Traditional Investigational New Drug (IND) applications are primarily aimed at conducting clinical studies for drug registration and market approval. Currently, investigator-initiated trials (IITs) are playing an increasingly important role in both academic and industrial sectors. IITs represent a policy advantage under China’s characteristic dual-track regulatory system. By leveraging IITs for rapid validation, companies can enhance the efficiency of product trial-and-error iterations, helping China’s cell and gene therapy industry achieve overtaking opportunities on the international stage. In light of this, experts from hospital administrative offices, corporate representatives, clinical principal investigators (PIs), and professional societies will participate in this forum to discuss hot topics such as preclinical capability building, translational bridging, and efficient Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) translational capabilities supporting both IITs and INDs during the early R&D phase of innovative drug translation.

(3) Outlook:How to Further Promote the Development of Basic Scientific Research，Facilitating the Conversion of Research Achievements?

From the earliest stages to the final endpoint, basic scientific research and pharmaceutical companies play different but irreplaceable roles in their respective domains. Pharmaceutical companies typically serve as intermediaries and bridges connecting basic scientific research with clinical needs. Basic scientific research often begins not necessarily aligned with immediate human needs, but rather as open-ended exploration. In contrast, pharmaceutical companies are closer to patients and physicians, giving them a deeper understanding of clinical demands and the complexities of real-world practice. They can promptly feed clinical insights back into basic research, enabling focused, purpose-driven breakthroughs that are more targeted and effective.The forum will also invite representatives from clinical practitioners, preclinical compliance, and biotech companies to jointly explore the challenges and pain points in the translation of innovative drug research achievements.

创新药科研成果转化.png