Investment and financing are the lifeline of pharmaceutical innovation and crucial for promoting the development of the healthcare industry. In 2022, there were a total of 1,218 financing events in China's healthcare industry investment and financing market, with a total financing amount of $15.6 billion. Although this is a decrease compared to 2021, it is conducive for innovative enterprises to further penetrate the blue ocean market where the pattern has not yet solidified.
On April 21st, at the industry report launch event of the Boao Forum for Asia's International Health Industry Conference, Frost & Sullivan (Frost & Sullivan, referred to as 'Frost & Sullivan') and the Organizing Committee of the Global Health Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia jointly released the 'Vision 2030: White Paper on the Development Prospect of China's Big Health Industry' (hereinafter referred to as the 'White Paper'). The data was presented and it was pointed out that the deepening of population aging means that the future demand side will have higher demands for medical and health services in terms of quantity and quality. Medical insurance policies continue to promote pharmaceutical innovation, which is beneficial to truly innovative varieties.
With continuous favorable policies, the synthetic biology industry is in a period of rapid development
The 'White Paper' shows that in 2021, there were 16 investment and financing events in synthetic biology in China, with an investment and financing amount of 2.3 billion yuan, a 10-fold increase and a 140 million yuan increase respectively compared to 2020. Among the 16 investment and financing events, each round of financing was involved in the early stages, indicating that capital continues to pay attention to the progress of domestic synthetic biology companies.
Yang Xiaocheng, Partner and Managing Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China, analyzed that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the country listed synthetic biology as one of the disruptive technologies leading industrial transformation. Subsequently, the state introduced a series of policies to support the development of synthetic biology, and the 14th Five-Year Plan particularly emphasized the application of biotechnology synthesis. The synthetic biology industry has also encountered important development opportunities. Synthetic biology is also one of the tracks that capital particularly focuses on, with rapid financing growth in China's synthetic biology sector.From a comprehensive perspective of policies, investment and financing, technological development, etc., synthetic biology is in the industry's growth phase. With its broad application prospects in various fields, it is expected to drive the upgrading of production and manufacturing in the future, leading to a new round of industrial revolution.
In addition, synthetic biology is widely applied in the field of healthcare. Chinese synthetic biology companies use cutting-edge technologies such as gene editing and cell therapy to develop products related to rare diseases and solid tumors, including cell immunotherapy, gene editing applications, and pharmaceutical enzymes. For example, they use mRNA technology to rapidly synthesize vaccines artificially, use gene editing technology to treat genetic diseases, and treat diseases by modifying microorganisms or synthesizing artificial bacteriophages.
"
The success rate of clinical research and development of rare disease drugs is higher than that of drugs for other diseases
The development of the rare disease industry is also worthy of discussion and attention, and favorable policies will continue to promote pharmaceutical companies to conduct research and development of rare disease drugs.
The 'White Paper' shows that the success rate of clinical research and development (R&D) for rare disease drugs is higher than that for drugs for other diseases. For example, the success rate for rare disease drugs from Phase I to Phase II clinical trials is 67.4%, while the success rate for all disease drugs R&D is 52%. Looking at the entire cycle from R&D to market launch, the success rate from Phase I clinical trials to approval for rare disease drugs is 17%, while the success rate for all disease R&D is 7.9%, which is only half that of rare disease drugs.
"The higher R&D success rates for rare disease drugs will give pharmaceutical companies confidence in their research and development efforts. Additionally, against the backdrop of preferential policies for rare disease drug clinical trials, more pharmaceutical companies will engage in rare disease research and development in the future."Yang Xiaocheng pointed out that the research and development of rare disease drugs is booming, with CAR-T therapy, bispecific antibodies, and ADCs accounting for about 14.9% of the total. The number of innovative drug clinical trials (INDs) approved in China for rare diseases has increased from 33 in 2017 to 78 in 2021, and the number of marketing applications (NDAs) approved has risen from 4 in 2017 to 17 in 2021.
Yang Xiaocheng analyzed that, judging from the growth in IND numbers, the number of new rare disease drugs on the market is expected to continue to rise in the future.Compared with nearly 300 million rare disease patients in the EU and about 2.8 billion rare disease patients in the US, there are approximately 120 million rare disease patients in China. Among the 121 rare diseases included in China's 'First Batch of Rare Disease Catalogs', only 60% are treatable with drugs. The Chinese rare disease community has a large number of unmet clinical needs, and the market prospects are broad.
"
The Healthcare Metaverse Track - Brain-Computer Interfaces or the First to Be Commercialized
At the end of interpreting the 'White Paper', Yang Xiaopin also shared insights on the healthcare metaverse industry.
"Against the backdrop of innovation-driven development and digital transformation, leveraging the metaverse to accelerate urban digital layout and achieve a curve overtaking in the digital economy is a major fulcrum for governments promoting the metaverse," said Yang Xiaocheng. With policy support, the healthcare metaverse is expected to promote the diversification of application scenarios and achieve deep integration of the digital economy with the real economy.
On one hand, the underlying technologies of the metaverse will assist in new explorations in healthcare, nurturing diverse medical scenarios. Virtual imaging technologies represented by VR/AR/MR, brain-computer interfaces, and 5G technology break down the boundaries between the digital virtual world and the physical real world. Through intelligent wearable interactive devices, relevant information and corresponding solutions can be provided timely and accurately based on specific scenarios. Therefore, the medical metaverse has advantages in medical imaging, surgical assistance, telemedicine, medical robots, and drug research and development, which are conducive to optimizing traditional medical processes, improving medical outcomes, and reducing the workload of healthcare staff.
On the other hand, since brain-computer interface technology can directly achieve interaction between the brain and external devices, bypassing conventional brain information output pathways, it has broad application prospects in the field of healthcare. It mainly includes areas such as physical examination diagnosis, screening monitoring, treatment, and rehabilitation for neurological and psychiatric system diseases.Looking ahead, Yang Xiaocheng pointed out that brain-computer interfaces are expected to become one of the first commercialization tracks in the medical metaverse.
"
Top 10 Most Potential Companies in Cell and Gene Therapy, Synthetic Biology
The released 'White Paper' also includes two lists. Frost & Sullivan comprehensively evaluated emerging biotech companies from Series A to Series C financing based on dimensions such as financing status, strategic cooperation capabilities, and innovative technologies. The final results identified the Top 15 'Most Potential Companies in China's Cell and Gene Therapy Field' and the Top 15 'Most Potential Companies in China's Synthetic Biology Industry'.
"China's Most Promising Enterprise in Cell and Gene Therapy" Top 15
Gimerisone
Jiangsu Aierkang
Stanbio
Bosengji
Hode Biology
Alp
Huida Genomics
Boya Jyin
Qihan Biology
epistatic gene
Aike Biotechnology
Ruifeng Biology
Dingxin Gene
Yuesai Biology
Aisa Biotechnology
"Top 15 Most Potential Enterprises in China's Synthetic Biology Industry"
Enhe Biology
Hisun Gene
Huali Biology
Blue Crystal Microorganisms
Yikelei Biology
Ruiding Biology
BaiKuiRui
Kaidi Medical
General Biology
Oxana
Xinbeile Bio
Yatu Biology
Hengrui Biology
Born in union with all things
Hong Kong pharmaceutical tumorolytic
(Note: Rankings are not in any particular order.)
*This article is reprinted from 'The Beijing News', Reporter: Wang Kala
