Innogen named among China’s Emerging Pharmaceutical Innovators for 2024

Innogen named among China's Emerging Pharmaceutical Innovation Forces for 2024

The 41st National Pharmaceutical Industry Information Conference took place in Chengdu on September 6–9, 2024, under the guidance of the China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry. It was organised by the China National Pharmaceutical Industry Information Center and hosted by Sichuan's Department of Economy and Information Technology. With a theme of commitment, renewal and the future, it brought together government, industry, academic and medical participants. Sichuan Vice Governor Li Wenqing and Wang Xiaoyang, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Department of Consumer Goods Industry, spoke at the opening. Attendees included Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Deng Zixin; Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians Li Song and Chen Fen'er; former National Healthcare Security Administration Deputy Director Chen Jinfu; Ying Yazhen, Deputy Director of the National Healthcare Security Research Institute at Capital Medical University; Zhang Feng, Director of the National Health Commission's Department of Drug Policy and Essential Medicines, and its second-level inspector Liu Jianan; Gu Jinhui, Deputy Director of the Commission's Department of Science, Technology and Education; and Zhang Hui, Deputy Director of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control.

The conference discussed innovation as a driver of public health and pharmaceutical-industry development within China's innovation-driven development and Healthy China strategies. To select the annual Emerging Pharmaceutical Innovation Forces, the China National Pharmaceutical Industry Information Center convened an expert panel with the China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry and Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry. Drawing on research and analysis of objective company data for 2024, the panel assessed products in terms of innovation, investment, technology and competition, and companies in terms of their characteristics, growth drivers, strategy and development. Comprehensive scores across these dimensions determined the companies recognised at the conference.

Shanghai Innogen Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. was selected for its original innovation and product capabilities. Founder Professor Qinghua Wang accepted the award for the company. Innogen described the recognition as a new starting point and challenge, extending its recognition from an emerging company in Zhangjiang's life-sciences sector to a national pharmaceutical innovator. It thanked supporters and said it would continue focusing on metabolic disease and original innovation, responding to clinical needs and strengthening research to contribute to high-quality pharmaceutical development and human health.

Innogen is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to innovative, accessible, affordable and high-quality medicines for metabolic diseases. Its independently developed pipeline addresses 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 technology and pipeline value by government and industry.

At the time of this article, efsubaglutide alfa, Innogen's first pipeline product, had completed Phase III trials in type 2 diabetes and its marketing application had been accepted by the Center for Drug Evaluation. The company described the clinical 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 and benefit more people with diabetes. It was also developing the molecule for weight management and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to address unmet needs.