Fifth Peking University Global Life Sciences Industry Summit: Dr. Chen Yiyou of New Horizon Health Discusses Bridging Cancer Early Screening with the Real World

On November 9, 2019, the 5th Peking University Global Industry Summit on Life Sciences was successfully held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The summit was hosted by the School of Life Sciences at Peking University and its Alumni Association, and co-organized by New Horizon Health, Focused Photonics Inc., and Haibang Fund.

This forum is themed around“Life Sciences Industry in Transformation”as the theme, aiming to create an industry event centered on free networking among attendees and fostering unrestricted interaction across the entire “academia, research, industry, and capital” value chain.

At the forum, over 230 attendees from eight countries and regions engaged in interactive discussions on topics including life sciences, biomedicine, the health industry, early cancer screening, precision oncology, emerging healthcare models, and new drug development.

As an alumni enterprise of the School of Life Sciences at Peking University and the title sponsor of this forum, New Horizon Health was represented by its CEO, Mr. Zhu Yeqing, and Chief Scientist, Dr. Chen Yiyou, who both attended the event. The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr. Zhu Yeqing.

Mr. Zhu Yeqing, CEO of New Horizon Health

In his opening remarks, Zhu Yeqing stated that the 21st century is the era of life sciences. As China’s premier institution for life sciences, Peking University holds the Global Life Sciences Industry Summit with significant practical and strategic importance. The Global Life Sciences Industry Summit at Peking University is one of the flagship events organized by the Alumni Association of the School of Life Sciences and has been successfully held four times.New Horizon Health will continue to support the Academy in building an integrated system encompassing “academia, research, industry, and capital” in the life sciences sector, with a particular focus on early cancer screening.

In her opening remarks, Wu Hong, Chair Professor at Peking University and Dean of the College of Life Sciences at Peking University, stated that the College is one of the most comprehensive institutions for life sciences research and education in China. Its rapid development has been made possible by the strong support from alumni around the world. The College has been actively exploring various models of development through university-local government collaborations, university-industry partnerships, and alumni engagement. Examples include the establishment of the East China Industrial Research Institute for Life Sciences of Peking University in Qidong, Jiangsu Province, and the creation of the Centennial Development Fund for the College of Life Sciences.

Wu Hong, Chair Professor at Peking University and Dean of the School of Life Sciences at Peking University

A report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the official journal of the American Cancer Society, reveals that China ranks first globally in both cancer incidence and mortality rates. Among every 100 new cancer cases worldwide, 21 are from China. In China, many cancer patients are diagnosed only at advanced stages, which significantly reduces their survival rates. Data show that the cure rate for early-stage cancer can be as high as 90%; therefore, early screening plays a crucial role in reducing cancer-related mortality.

At the forum, Chen Yiyou, Chief Scientist at New Horizon Health, delivered a presentation titled “From Ideal to Reality: Early Colorectal Cancer Screening—Bridging Innovation with Real-World Practice.”

Dr. Chen Yiyou, Chief Scientist of New Horizon Health

Chen Yiyou stated that colorectal cancer is highly preventable through regular colonoscopy screening. In fact, however, it remains one of the four cancers with the highest incidence and mortality rates in developed countries. In 2015, there were 400,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in China, and in recent years, both the incidence and mortality rates of this disease have been rising year by year.

There are three internationally recognized clinical screening techniques for colorectal cancer: first, fecal occult blood testing; second, colonoscopy; and third, FIT-DNA testing based on molecular detection.

The first FIT-DNA testing technology based on the Chinese genetic map was developed by New Horizon Health.The company collected colorectal cancer tissue samples from Chinese individuals nationwide and developed the FIT-DNA testing technology by designing assays targeting high-frequency mutation sites identified through sequencing. In the “Expert Consensus on Colorectal Cancer Screening in China (2018),” FIT-DNA testing was included as a standard method for colorectal cancer screening.

“Changweiqing” is a multi-target fecal FIT-DNA combined detection technology under New Horizon Health, tailored for the Chinese population. “Changweiqing” is a non-invasive, painless, and home-use genetic testing product that provides better intestinal health assessment services for individuals undergoing health checkups by enabling timely detection of early-stage colorectal cancer.

Chen Yiyou stated that only by aligning with the real world can innovation possess enduring vitality.In May 2019, New Horizon Health, in collaboration with iKang Group, released China’s first White Paper on Colorectal Cancer and Precancerous Lesions among the Chinese Physical Examination Population Based on Molecular Diagnostics.This white paper analyzed a total of 42,823 samples, with females accounting for 44.74% and males for 55.26%. The median age of the sampled population was 41 years. The data revealed that the positivity rate among males was 9.65%, higher than the 8.04% observed in females, indicating that men face greater pressure on intestinal health.

Additionally, the white paper indicates that among the sample population tested with “ColoClear,” the abnormal detection rate was 42.50%, of which colorectal cancer accounted for 5.63%, precancerous lesions accounted for 75.00%, and other intestinal diseases accounted for 19.37%.

During the roundtable discussion session, Mr. Zhu Yeqing moderated and participated in the “Cancer Prevention and Treatment” roundtable forum. Mr. Zhu stated that the School of Life Sciences at Peking University plays a significant role in supporting the Healthy China strategy.New Horizon Health will strengthen its collaboration with the School of Life Sciences at Peking University to facilitate the commercialization of academic research achievements and drive the market adoption of cutting-edge technologies in the field of early cancer screening.

“Cancer Prevention and Treatment” Roundtable Forum, from left to right: Zhu Yeqing, CEO of New Horizon Health; Lü Yuefeng, Chief Technology Officer of AskGene Pharma; Liao Cheng, Vice General Manager of Hengrui Medicine; and Liu Cui, Director of Antibody Development at Jingjie Bio.

Notably, differing from previous editions, this forum featured project pitch sessions for the first time. All showcased projects were startups founded by alumni of the School of Life Sciences at Peking University, aiming to provide more opportunities for communication, mutual understanding, and collaboration among alumni.

There were a total of eight roadshow projects, namely: Qidong Fangjing Biotechnology’s “Sequencing and Gene Editing Technology Services and Industrialization” project; Xinrui Regeneration’s “R&D of Small-Molecule Drugs for Induced Regeneration” project; Harvard Organ Regeneration’s “Revolutionary Organ Regeneration Platform” project; Jingkerui’s “Multi-Omics Detection Platform for Tumor Immunotherapy” project; WeGene Biotechnology’s “Development and Manufacturing of Gene Therapy Vectors” project; Boke Biotechnology’s “Class 1.1 New Drug for Pneumoconiosis” project; Huade Biotechnology’s “Stem Cell Technology and Drug R&D” project; and T-Cure’s “T-Cell Receptor Immunotherapy” project.

New Horizon Health, established in 2013, is an innovative biotechnology company specializing in home-based early screening for high-incidence cancers and genetic testing services. As one of the first companies to pioneer cancer early screening, New Horizon Health remains steadfastly committed to bringing these screening solutions into households across the nation, enabling the public to access convenient and efficient healthcare services.

As a pioneer and leader in the cancer early screening industry, New Horizon Health has set numerous records. The company has successively launched “ColoClear,” the first multi-target stool FIT-DNA test tailored to the genomic characteristics of the Chinese population; “Pupu Tube,” the world’s first self-test device for fecal occult blood; “FeiZhengQing,” the world’s first approved sputum-based auxiliary diagnostic product for lung cancer; and “GongZhengQing,” the world’s first urine-based HPV detection product.

The School of Life Sciences at Peking University traces its origins to the Department of Biology established in 1925, making it one of the earliest biology departments founded in Chinese higher education institutions. As the cradle of modern biological sciences in China, the School has, over the past 94 years, cultivated successive generations of distinguished scholars in the field of biology, exerting a profound influence on the development of biological sciences in China.