The 17th C.C. Tan Life Science Award ceremony honored Dr. Chen Li, Founder and CEO of Hua Medicine, with the 'C.C. Tan Life Science Industrialization Award' on October 9th at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University. This award, often regarded as 'the Chinese Nobel' in life science, recognizes Dr. Chen's contributions to the industrialization of life science achievements and his efforts in promoting innovation within the biopharmaceutical industry.
Contributions to China's Biopharmaceutical Industry
With over 30 years of experience in new drug R&D and management, Dr. Chen Li returned to Shanghai from the U.S. in 2004 and played a role in establishing Roche R&D Center, the first R&D center of a multinational company in Shanghai. He introduced international best practices, talent management strategies, technical standards, and quality management systems, contributing to the development of China's biopharmaceutical industry.
Hua Medicine and Dorzagliatin (HuaTangNing®)
In 2010, Dr. Chen Li founded Hua Medicine in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, driven by the vision of 'China leads the way in pharmaceutical innovation'. The company focuses on addressing unmet clinical needs in diabetes treatment. In September 2022, Hua Medicine's independently developed Class I National New Drug, Dorzagliatin (trade name: HuaTangNing®), received marketing approval from the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Dorzagliatin is the first globally approved Glucose Kinesin Activator (GKA), representing a novel class of diabetes therapeutics.
Novel Mechanism of Action
Dorzagliatin utilizes a new approach of 'repairing sensing, reshaping homeostasis, and treating diabetes at the source' to improve blood glucose homeostasis dysregulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This represents a significant advancement in diabetes treatment, offering a new therapeutic option for patients.
Impact on Regulatory Framework and Industry Development
Dr. Chen Li has actively contributed to the development of China's biopharmaceutical industry by providing input on the marketing license holder system and patent linkage and protection mechanisms. He has also fostered collaboration within the industry chain to establish a joint innovation model for the R&D and production of dorzagliatin, promoting the ecological development of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Recognition and Achievements
In early 2024, Dr. Chen Li was awarded the first 'Shanghai Outstanding Talent' award. He is the inventor of 119 granted invention patents and 270 invention patent applications and has published over 70 scientific papers in journals such as Nature Medicine, Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology, Nature Communication, PNAS, Diabetes, Obesity Metabolism, and the Journal of Biomedicine.
About Hua Medicine
Hua Medicine is focused on developing therapies for patients with unmet medical needs worldwide, particularly in diabetes care. Hua Medicine's cornerstone product HuaTangNing (dorzagliatin tablets), targets the glucose sensor glucokinase, restores glucose sensitivity in T2D patients, and stabilizes imbalances in blood glucose levels in patients. Hua Medicine has partnered with Bayer to commercialize HuaTangNing in China.
