Zhong Nanshan Highlights Greater Treatment Challenges in Critical COVID-19 Cases Compared to SARS; WHO Maintains Pandemic Risk Assessment

Zhong Nanshan: Treating Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Is More Challenging Than SARS

On February 17, Academician Zhong Nanshan and the expert team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University conducted another remote video consultation with the frontline ICU team of the Guangdong Medical Rescue Team in Wuhan, at Wuhan Union Hospital. The two sides discussed the conditions of three critically ill patients and formulated treatment plans. Academician Zhong Nanshan stated, “The novel coronavirus causes substantial damage to patients’ lungs, and the pulmonary mucus it generates obstructs airway patency, making it more difficult to treat than SARS.”

Tencent Participates in the Development of Health Information Codes for Epidemic Prevention and Control on the National Government Service Platform

On February 18, Tencent participated in advancing the development of the health information code for epidemic prevention and control on the National Integrated Government Service Platform, and is set to launch an epidemic prevention information service via the State Government Service Platform’s WeChat mini-program. The introduction of this health information code is expected to resolve issues such as inconsistent data standards and cross-regional incompatibility arising from multi-channel collection of residents’ health information, thereby achieving interconnectivity of epidemic-related services across provinces and regions and better supporting nationwide epidemic prevention and control efforts.

SenseTime Launches AI-Powered Smart Epidemic Prevention Solution, Effectively Enhancing Population Screening Capabilities

Recently, SenseTime launched an “AI-Powered Smart Epidemic Prevention Solution” that integrates facial recognition with thermal imaging for intelligent temperature screening. This solution enables simultaneous multi-person temperature detection and identity verification even while individuals are wearing masks, effectively mitigating the epidemic prevention risks associated with mask removal at security checkpoints, workplaces, and residential community entrances, thereby enhancing both recognition accuracy and throughput efficiency.

WHO: Will Not Raise Global Risk Level for COVID-19 Pandemic

On February 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) held a press conference in Geneva to provide an update on the COVID-19 outbreak. At the conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that, based on the data on COVID-19 cases released by China, the number of new cases was showing a downward trend. In light of this, the WHO maintained its previous assessment that COVID-19 does not constitute a pandemic and that it would not raise the global risk level of the outbreak.

Gilead Announces Progress in Remdesivir Clinical Trials: Patients Receive 10-Day Intravenous Infusion, Results Expected in April

On February 18, Dr. Merdad Parsey, Chief Medical Officer of Gilead Sciences, provided further responses regarding the latest progress in the clinical trials of remdesivir. He stated that two randomized, controlled trials to evaluate remdesivir had been rapidly established—one targeting patients with severe disease and the other targeting those with moderate disease. These trials are being conducted at multiple hospitals in Hubei Province, with patient enrollment currently underway. The clinical trials are coordinated by China-Japan Friendship Hospital. Patients will receive a 10-day course of intravenous remdesivir. The primary endpoints of both studies include improvement in clinical symptoms 28 days after treatment initiation. The trial results are expected to be available in April.

Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Successfully Isolates Two Strains of SARS-CoV-2

On February 18, it was reported by the Anhui Provincial Emergency Comprehensive Command for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control that the Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had successfully applied metatranscriptomic gene sequencing to samples from COVID-19 cases and isolated two strains of the novel coronavirus. The isolated viral strains can be utilized in research areas such as disease spectrum analysis, transmission patterns, vaccine development, screening of antiviral drugs, development of rapid diagnostic tests, and evaluation of disinfection and sterilization efficacy. These efforts provide a scientific basis for epidemic prevention and control, holding significant importance for the prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Shenghua Technology Completes Over RMB 100 Million in Financing to Support Production for Leading Domestic LCD Manufacturers

On February 18, 2020, Shandong Shenghua New Material Technology Co., Ltd. completed a financing round exceeding RMB 100 million, led by Addor Capital. The proceeds from this round will be primarily used to support production for leading domestic liquid crystal manufacturers, further consolidating Shenghua Technology’s market position in liquid crystal intermediates and monomers. Shenghua Technology is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and development, production, and sales of liquid crystal materials, OLED materials, and pharmaceutical intermediates. To date, the company has developed more than 130 new products, over 80 of which have achieved large-scale production. Its products are widely sold in the domestic market and exported to countries including Japan, South Korea, and Germany.

Moen Biotech Completes Tens of Millions in Series B Financing for Microbiome Drug R&D

Recently, Moon Biotech announced the completion of its Series B financing round, raising tens of millions of RMB, with Yuexiu Industrial Fund participating as a repeat investor. The proceeds will be used to support the research and development of microbiome-based therapeutics, as well as the development and commercialization of microbial agents. Moon Biotech is committed to building an internationally leading microbial strain resource library and developing highly bioactive functional microbes and their metabolites.

Junzheng Group Plans to Invest RMB 1.1 Billion in Daan Pharmaceutical, Entering the Blood Products Sector

On February 18, 2020, Junzheng Group announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lhasa Shengtai, planned to subscribe for RMB 357 million in new capital contributions from related party Da’an Pharmaceutical at a total consideration of RMB 1.122 billion, accounting for 31.17% of Da’an Pharmaceutical’s registered capital following the capital increase and share expansion. Da’an Pharmaceutical is primarily engaged in the production and sales of blood products.

Novartis’ Next-Generation Ophthalmic Drug Beovu Approved in the EU for the Treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Recently, Novartis announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Beovu (brolucizumab, also known as RTH258), a next-generation ophthalmic drug, for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet-AMD). This approval applies to all 27 EU member states, as well as the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.

Hephuahua's Innovative NASH Drug HPN-01 Receives FDA Clearance for Clinical Trials

On February 18, Shanghai Hepuhua Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for HPN-01, a first-in-class innovative drug with a novel target and mechanism of action independently developed by the company, has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The targeted indication is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This marks the first FDA clinical trial approval obtained by Hepuhua.

Livzon's Aripiprazole Microspheres for Injection: Clinical Trial Application Accepted

On February 17, Zhuhai Livzon Microsphere Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Livzon Pharmaceutical Group, and Livzon Pharmaceutical Factory of Livzon Group received the "Notice of Acceptance" approved and issued by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The application for registration of Octreotide Acetate Microspheres for Injection, submitted by Livzon Microsphere and Livzon Pharmaceutical Factory, has been accepted.

Ascletis Pharma’s IND Application for ASC41, an Innovative Drug for the Treatment of NASH, Has Been Accepted

On February 18, Ascletis Pharma Inc. announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ASC41, a Class 1 innovative drug independently developed for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). ASC41 holds promise for use in combination with the company’s other innovative drug, ASC40, in the treatment of NASH. ASC41 is an oral thyroid hormone receptor-beta (THR-β) agonist, while ASC40 is an oral fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitor.

Johnson & Johnson’s Erleada Combined with ADT Reduces Risk of Second Disease Progression or Death

A recent study presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2020) in San Francisco showed that in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), treatment with Johnson & Johnson’s new prostate cancer drug Erleada (apalutamide) in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) reduced the risk of second disease progression or death (PFS2), regardless of whether hormone therapy or taxane therapy was used as the first subsequent life-prolonging treatment.

Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo Combined with Chemotherapy for Neoadjuvant Therapy Achieves 49% Pathological Complete Response Rate

Recently, results from the BLASST-1 clinical trial in bladder cancer presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2020) held in San Francisco demonstrated robust efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy with Bristol Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 agent Opdivo (nivolumab) combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC): the pathologic non-muscle-invasive rate (PaR) was 66%, and the pathologic complete response rate (pCR) was 49%. The combination regimen was safe in the study, with no increased toxicity or mortality, and did not lead to delays in cystectomy or unexpected surgical complications.

China’s Largest Oncology Healthcare Group, Hygeia Healthcare, Plans Hong Kong IPO

On February 17, Shanghai-based Hygeia Healthcare Holdings Limited filed a prospectus with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, seeking a listing on the Main Board. As of the latest practicable date, Hygeia Healthcare operated or managed a network of ten oncology-focused hospitals across seven cities in six provinces in China, through direct equity ownership or management rights. Meanwhile, it has provided services to 14 hospital partners (including entrusted hospitals) across nine provinces in China for their radiotherapy centers.

Guangshengtang’s Joint Venture Designated as Fuzhou City’s Official Testing Center for Novel Coronavirus Among Returning Workers

Recently, the Emergency Command Center for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, issued the “Notice on the Work Plan for Conducting Viral Nucleic Acid Testing on Employees Returning to Fuzhou from Other Provinces to Resume Work.” Fujian Boao Medical Laboratory Co., Ltd. has been designated as a nucleic acid testing unit for the novel coronavirus in Fuzhou City and is responsible for conducting the first round of viral nucleic acid testing on employees returning to Fuzhou from other provinces to resume work.

Guizhou Bailing and Guoxin Medicine Jointly Conduct Clinical Studies on Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Drugs

On February 18, Guizhou Bailing announced that it had entered into a Technical Service Agreement with Sinopharm Pharmaceutical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. for the “Randomized, Open-Label, Parallel-Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Kesuting Syrup and Keqing Capsules in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Pneumonia Associated with Novel Coronavirus Infection.”

Science: “Memory-Eating” Microglia May Provide Clues to Memory Regulation

Recently, the research teams led by Professor Gu Yan and Associate Professor Wang Lang at Zhejiang University School of Medicine discovered for the first time that microglia, which are involved in immune responses, cause memory forgetting by eliminating synapses. They further found that the complement signaling pathway participates in microglia-mediated forgetting. This study was published in the prestigious international journal Science.