On October 18, 2024, Secretary Zhang Qiang of the Working Committee of Beijing E-Town visited Beijing Genecradle Therapeutics Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Genecradle Therapeutics") for research to gain an in-depth understanding of the company's production of innovative gene therapy drugs and their clinical progress. Secretary Zhang Qiang fully affirmed Genecradle Therapeutics' diligent and persistent research spirit in key areas of biomedicine, encouraging the company to continue to delve into its professional field, concentrate efforts on joint research, and accelerate the construction of technological barriers.
Genecradle Therapeutics started in Beijing E-Town, developed in Beijing E-Town, and will also grow in Beijing E-Town. This research activity provided valuable guiding opinions for the company's future strategic planning. Under the leadership of Beijing E-Town, Genecradle Therapeutics will continue to deepen the development of critical technologies, strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation, accelerate the clinical trials and market promotion of independently developed drugs, promote continuous innovation and application of gene therapy technology, and bring good news to more patients.
The following content is from the "Beijing Yizhuang" public account.
Transforming First-Mover Advantage into Lasting Industrial Agglomeration Advantage! Zhang Qiang's Special Research on Cell and Gene Therapy Enterprises
Recently, Secretary Zhang Qiang conducted special research on cell and gene therapy (CGT) enterprises to accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces. He emphasized the need to thoroughly implement the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, fully implement the work requirements of the "Beijing Action Plan for Accelerating Medical Health Collaborative Innovation (2024-2026)", give full play to the early layout of Beijing E-Town in the CGT industry track, industrial support system, and the leading professional service network across the country. Aim at the frontier of industrial development, support innovative research and development and the landing of results, accelerate the formation of new advantages, cultivate new growth points, make Yizhuang contributions to building an internationally leading cell and gene therapy industry cluster in Beijing.
CGT is an important "new track" in global science and technology and industrial competition. As the area with the most concentrated development of the pharmaceutical and health industry in Beijing, Beijing E-Town has early laid out in the CGT field. In 2023, it issued "Several Measures to Promote the High-Quality Development of Cell and Gene Therapy Industry", introduced the National Biological Medical Experimental Cell Resource Library, built the first domestic industrial park featuring cell and gene therapy, created the Beijing Yizhuang Biomedical Park Cell and Gene Therapy Service Platform, gathered a group of industry-leading enterprises such as Yongtai Bio, YiBo Bio, and Bosheng Bio, basically forming a full-chain industrial system from research and development to production. The number of key enterprises and clinical trial products is at the top of the city, with 24 products entering clinical trials. At present, in accordance with the overall deployment of Beijing's construction of "a globally influential pharmaceutical industry innovation highland", it is accelerating the planning and construction of BioPark (International Pharmaceutical Innovation Park), further gathering high-energy innovative resources, supporting high-value innovative products, and creating a high-energy innovative ecosystem.
Beijing Genecradle Therapeutics Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Cytomed Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd. have made breakthrough progress in the CGT field. Genecradle Therapeutics, as a gene therapy drug research and development company based on AAV vector delivery technology, has developed GC101 injection, the first domestic SMA gene therapy drug using intrathecal administration, and GC301 injection, the world's first AAV delivery gene therapy drug for infantile Pompe's disease, both at a leading level nationally and globally. Cytomed Pharmaceutical is the earliest domestic contract research organization (CRO) to layout clinical research on frontier innovative drugs represented by CGT. To date, it has served more than 1,000 innovative drug varieties and more than 4,000 innovative drug projects, serving more than 600 customers. Secretary Zhang Qiang successively visited the two companies and had discussions with the company leaders. He fully affirmed the two companies' diligent and persistent research spirit in key areas of biomedicine, encouraged Genecradle Therapeutics to continue to delve into its professional field, concentrate efforts on joint research, and accelerate the construction of technological barriers; he encouraged Cytomed Pharmaceutical to continue to play its platform resource advantages, actively cooperate with enterprises in the area in investment incubation, industrial collaboration, scientific research construction, etc., persist in rooting in Yizhuang, and continue to grow and strengthen.
During the research, Secretary Zhang Qiang emphasized that the cell and gene therapy industry, as one of the most potential development tracks in the field of biomedicine, is an emerging technology field that many countries around the world focus on supporting. It is necessary to deepen the collaborative linkage between government and enterprises, give full play to the significant advantages of regional healthy industrial development, continue to promote new and greater achievements in the cell and gene therapy industry. Accelerate the breakthrough of key core technologies and the research and development and listing process of the innovative industry, comprehensively enhance the competitiveness of cell and gene therapy products, and promote a group of innovative brands with international influence and great market potential to accelerate the formation of industrial increments. Accelerate the supply chain and strengthen the chain, introduce and cultivate a group of supply chain and industry chain related enterprises with independent intellectual property rights and core competitiveness, give play to the leading role of leading enterprises, promote the integration of resources and collaborative development of upstream, middle, and downstream enterprises, and further build a high-quality industrial ecosystem. Make good use of national and municipal funds and the E-Town government investment guidance fund to provide strong support at key links in enterprise development. Fully amplify the platform and media effects of various forums and exhibitions, promote information exchange and brand building, and accelerate the release of the strong vitality of the cell and gene therapy industry. Continuously improve the guarantee of elements, optimize the full chain and full life cycle industrial service capabilities, and provide full support to enterprises in terms of policy, talent, housing, etc., to promote more high-quality projects to land and develop in Beijing Yizhuang with greater strength. Actively introduce and apply new technology methods, explore new paths of "artificial intelligence + new drug research and development", and promote the quality, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of new drug research and development. Adhere to the safety bottom line, actively seek guidance and support from ministries and municipal levels, strengthen the quality control and production process supervision of CGT products, and ensure that product production is compliant and of high quality.
Deputy Director Liu Li, relevant departments, and Yizhuang National Investment leaders participated.