Zhong Nanshan Teams Up with Alibaba to Combat Pandemic; National Health Commission Outlines Four Key Sources of Asymptomatic Infections

Alibaba Cloud and the Zhong Nanshan Team Collaborate to Accelerate the Research and Development of Anti-COVID-19 Vaccines and Drugs

On February 13, the Jack Ma Foundation, Alibaba Cloud, the Guangdong Zhong Nanshan Medical Foundation, and the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health signed a framework cooperation agreement to accelerate research and development efforts for the prevention and control of COVID-19, and to jointly explore the establishment of a national-level intelligent early-warning system based on big data for respiratory diseases. This marks the third concrete project under this special fund to be implemented in less than two weeks since the Jack Ma Foundation announced its donation of RMB 100 million to support the development of vaccines against the novel coronavirus.

National Health Commission: Four Main Sources for the Detection of Asymptomatic Infections

On February 14, Zeng Yixin, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission, stated that asymptomatic individuals infected with the novel coronavirus generally refer to those who do not exhibit clinical symptoms such as fever or cough but test positive in specimen testing. Asymptomatic cases are primarily identified through four sources: First, among close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, some such individuals were discovered during medical observation periods. Second, asymptomatic cases may be detected during investigations of cluster outbreaks and through proactive screening efforts. Third, asymptomatic cases may be identified when conducting proactive testing of exposed populations during source tracing for COVID-19 transmission. Fourth, asymptomatic cases may be found through proactive testing of individuals with a travel or residence history in areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases and ongoing community transmission.

Buchang Pharmaceuticals Collaborates with Zhejiang University’s State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases to Jointly Develop a Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Project

Buchang Pharmaceuticals announced last night that its subsidiary, Tianyuan Biologics, had signed a Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Development with the State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University) to jointly carry out R&D on a novel coronavirus vaccine project. The announcement specifically noted that, should epidemic prevention and control needs arise, both parties agree to contribute the relevant research findings to the state.

WHO Supports China in Adopting Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Confirming COVID-19 Cases

On February 13, the World Health Organization stated that it supports China’s adoption of clinical diagnostic criteria for confirming COVID-19 cases in Hubei Province, noting that this approach helps patients receive clinical care more promptly. The resulting increase in the number of confirmed cases “does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the epidemic.”

China's Biotherapeutic COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Product Has Been Put into Clinical Use

Recently, China National Biotec Group (CNBG) announced that it had completed the collection of plasma from some recovered patients and initiated the preparation of hyperimmune plasma products and hyperimmune globulin specific to the novel coronavirus. Following rigorous testing for blood biosafety, viral inactivation, and antiviral activity assessment, hyperimmune plasma for clinical treatment has been successfully produced. Through close collaboration among CNBG’s Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Sinopharm Group Wuhan Blood Products Co., Ltd., the First People’s Hospital of Jiangxia District in Wuhan, Wuhan Blood Center, the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, this plasma has been deployed in clinical care for critically ill patients.

Tsinghua University Launches Intelligent Diagnostic System for COVID-19, Enhancing Diagnostic Capabilities at Primary Care Hospitals

Recently, the Intelligent Auxiliary Diagnostic System for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia, developed under the leadership of Academician You Zheng from the Department of Precision Instruments at Tsinghua University and Academician Dong Jiahong from the School of Clinical Medicine, has successfully passed application testing and entered the clinical trial phase. This system empowers primary care hospitals and community health centers, enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of primary care physicians for novel coronavirus pneumonia and promoting the standardization of diagnosis and treatment for this emerging infectious disease across medical institutions at different levels.

Xinhua Pharmaceutical’s Cephalexin Capsules Pass the Generic Drug Consistency Evaluation

On February 13, Xinhua Pharmaceutical announced in an evening filing that the company had recently received the “Approval for Supplementary Drug Application” issued by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for Cephalexin Capsules (0.25 g and 0.125 g). The product has passed the consistency evaluation of quality and efficacy for generic drugs. As one of the key anti-infective agents, it is primarily indicated for the treatment of respiratory tract infections such as acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia caused by susceptible bacteria, as well as otitis media, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.

Seattle Genetics’ Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib Receives FDA Priority Review

Recently, Seattle Genetics announced that the FDA has granted priority review for its targeted anticancer drug tucatinib, approving the combination of tucatinib with trastuzumab and capecitabine for patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including those with brain metastases, who have received at least three prior HER2-targeted therapies in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic settings.

Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR-T Therapy liso-cel Granted FDA Priority Review

On February 14, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had accepted its Biologics License Application (BLA) for lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), a CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), who have received at least two prior lines of therapy. The FDA also granted priority review, with a decision expected by August 17 of this year.

GenapSys Launches Low-Cost Gene Sequencer in Asia to Aid COVID-19 Pandemic Control

Recently, gene sequencing company GenapSys announced the launch of its low-cost, desktop Gene Sequencer, GenapSys, in the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and the rapidly growing Chinese gene sequencing market. Meanwhile, GenapSys also announced that it has engaged with Chinese health authorities regarding efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, thereby providing Chinese researchers with highly accurate, portable, and affordable sequencing solutions to support the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Cap Biotech Plans Private Placement of 42.49 Million Shares to Raise RMB 1.05 Billion

On February 13, Hybribio announced in an evening filing that it plans to privately place no more than 42.4909 million shares to no more than five specific investors, including Guan Zhisheng, one of the company’s actual controllers, director, and senior executive. The total funds raised are not expected to exceed RMB 1.05 billion. After deducting issuance expenses, the proceeds will be used for the industrialization of nucleic acid molecular diagnostic products, the upgrade of third-party medical laboratories, research and development of nucleic acid molecular diagnostic products, research and development of anti-HPV drugs, and supplementary working capital.

Novartis Plans to Shut Down UK Plant or Cut 400 Jobs

Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan recently informed investors that the company is moving toward integrating its manufacturing operations into a single entity more focused on advanced technologies. The latest development is the company’s plan to cease operations at its Grimsby site in the United Kingdom, one of Novartis’ three major manufacturing facilities, whose production team enjoys a strong reputation within the company. Novartis stated that approximately 400 workers would face job losses unless a buyer can be found, resulting in an impact of at least £23 million on the local economy.

Alibaba Health Joins Forces with Nearly 50 Pharmaceutical Companies to Ensure Supply of Medications for Chronic Diseases

On February 13, nearly 50 domestic and international pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Sanofi, HEC Pharm, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Pfizer Upjohn, Novartis, Bayer, Merck & Co., and Bristol-Myers Squibb, joined forces with Ali Health to launch the “Chronic Disease Welfare Program” on Tmall’s “Buy Medicines Without Leaving Home” platform. This initiative aims to ensure the online supply of medications for chronic diseases during the epidemic while providing online chronic disease management services. Reportedly, the medications covered in this collaboration include treatments for chronic conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as over a thousand drugs addressing more than ten common ailments, including respiratory, neurological, anti-infective, orthopedic, gout, gynecological, gastrointestinal, rheumatologic and immunologic, and andrological conditions.

Cancer Cell: Study Reveals New Approach to Overcoming Drug Resistance in Skin Cancer Cells

Recently, researchers discovered that melanoma cells combat anticancer drugs by altering their internal skeleton (cytoskeleton), opening up a new therapeutic avenue for combating skin cancer and other cancers that develop treatment resistance. A research team led by Queen Mary University of London found that by increasing the activity of two cytoskeletal proteins—ROCK and myosin II—melanoma cells become unresponsive to immunotherapies and drugs targeting tumor-defective genes (B-RAF or N-Ras mutations in the MAPK pathway). The team identified these molecules as key to cancer cell survival and resistance to therapy.

《The Lancet》: Checkpoint Inhibitors Can Prolong Survival in Some Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Recently, a new global study led by the Yale Cancer Center (YCC) found that the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) extended survival time for patients with advanced head and neck cancer. The data were recently published in The Lancet. Results from the Phase 3 trial demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival among patients with previously untreated recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, compared with standard therapy.