The China Pharmaceutical Innovation Policy Forum was held in Pudong, Shanghai, on June 21, 2024, under the joint guidance of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) and the Pudong New Area government. With a theme of pooling innovation, engaging internationally and discussing the future, it examined implementation of the Pudong Plan and innovative payment systems. Participants included the Pudong government, Shanghai drug regulator, Zhangjiang Group, academics and pharmaceutical-company representatives. Innogen was invited to the discussion 'Looking Ahead: Innovation, Commercialisation and International Expansion' within the payment-system session. Professor Jianwei Xuan, Deputy Chair of PhIRDA's pharmaceutical-policy committee and Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Economics at Sun Yat-sen University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, chaired the discussion. Five academic and industry experts, including Innogen founder Professor Qinghua Wang and Professor Yue Yang of Tsinghua University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, discussed the state of innovative-drug development, market access and commercialisation in China, its strengths and constraints, international experience, and improvements that could sustain innovation.
The guests called for redesigning reimbursement rules and drawing on international approaches to address innovative-drug pricing. They advised companies to establish clear product positioning during development so that their products could gain recognition and earn a return after launch. They agreed that the value of innovation should include commercial prospects alongside efficacy and safety advances. To support international expansion, they argued that China first needed a supportive domestic environment in which companies could establish commercial success and a sound basis for overseas competition. Professor Wang focused on original innovation and called for closer alignment between China, Europe and the United States in research, regulatory review and commercial conditions. He also described the potential of efsubaglutide alfa, a new-generation human, long-acting GLP-1 medicine, to become best in class. He hoped original Chinese products could meet further clinical needs in China and contribute to innovation-led growth and gross domestic product (GDP).
Nearly 500 pharmaceutical-sector participants attended the forum, joining speakers to discuss innovation, interpret policy trends and assess the industry's future. The report noted that successive supportive policies and continued policy improvements could help translate innovation into practice and support high-quality biopharmaceutical development.
Innogen is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to innovative, accessible, affordable and high-quality medicines for metabolic diseases. Its independently developed pipeline covers diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other indications, with patents in multiple jurisdictions and plans for overseas research and commercialisation. In 2023, Innogen was named to the second annual Zhangjiang Life and Health Industry Emerging Companies list, which the company described as recognition of its technical capabilities and pipeline value.
At the time of this report, the company's first pipeline product, efsubaglutide alfa, had completed Phase III trials in type 2 diabetes and its marketing application had been accepted by the Center for Drug Evaluation. Innogen described the results as showing favourable safety and strong glucose lowering. It anticipated that approval would make the product China's first independently developed human, long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist with domestically owned intellectual property. The company was also developing the molecule for weight management and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to address unmet clinical needs.