General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the biopharmaceutical industry is a strategic emerging industry critical to the national well-being and security. He underscored the importance of strengthening our capacity for basic research and technological innovation to secure the development of this industry in our own hands. In Changchun, innovative drugs that fill critical domestic gaps are moving rapidly through the development pipeline, while modern intelligent factories continue to improve efficiency and expand capacity. Technological innovation and industrial clustering are advancing in tandem, driving leapfrog growth across the city's biopharmaceutical industry.

Recently, the "GenSci 161" injection, a self-developed Class 1 innovative drug by GenSci, received approval from the National Medical Products Administration. The drug is primarily intended for the treatment of endometriosis and moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Currently, not a single comparable therapy has been approved anywhere in the world for these indications. Continued progress in clinical research is expected to provide patients with a more convenient and long-lasting treatment option.

While precision breakthroughs at the molecular level are reshaping Western medicine, technological innovation is also transforming the production and circulation of traditional Chinese medicine. Jilin Beiyao Group, for instance, has established a digital intelligent warehousing system and introduced automated constant temperature and humidity control along with full-process electronic traceability technologies. These upgrades enable precise management throughout the entire lifecycle of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces—from inbound inspection and storage maintenance to outbound quality testing.

From breakthroughs by individual enterprises to the rapid expansion of industrial clusters, Changchun's biopharmaceutical industry is moving toward full-chain, cluster-based, and exponential development. Construction is currently underway on the Changchun Yongchun Medical City project, which is planned as a national leading zone for innovation-driven biopharmaceutical development. The project aims to establish a one-stop industrial ecosystem integrating basic research, pilot-scale R&D, commercialization, production and circulation, as well as testing and inspection services. Several major projects have already been signed and launched, including the Zhongmei Future Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Demonstration Base and the Changbai Mountain Ginseng and Specialty Products Deep-Processing Industrial Park.

Looking ahead, Changchun will continue promoting coordinated innovation among industry, academia, research institutions, medical establishments, and end users. The city aims to step up the development of influential flagship products, high-potential ones, and innovative ones, while driving technological iteration and upgrading of products already on the market. At the same time, efforts will be geared towards extending, reinforcing, and strengthening industrial chains through better follow-up services and factor guarantees, in a bid to help more enterprises expedite intelligent and digital transformation and propel the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry.

Source: Changchun News  Editor: Liu Jiadi