Sino-US biomedical cooperation has initially reversed | 'one side down' | situation

On August 17th, the technology gap between China's biotechnology field and developed countries in the world is rapidly disappearing. In the field of patent technology cooperation, it has gradually changed the past 'one-sided' situation. However, while developing, China's data security, privacy The indifference of the protection of rights has also become a major worry.

In recent years, China's biotechnology development has been heating up and speeding up. From the relevant data in the first half of the year, the investment and financing of China's biotechnology industry is likely to reach new heights this year. The rapid development of China's biotechnology industry is also a technological innovation in some domestic industries. From 'following' to 'running', 'leading' is a microcosm of the transition. On August 15th, the British "Financial Times" published an outlook on the prospect of China's biotechnology jumping from 'following'. Not only believe that the technological gap between China's biotechnology field and developed countries in the world is rapidly disappearing, but also in the field of patent technology cooperation has gradually changed the past 'one-sided' situation. However, while developing, China's indifference to data security and privacy protection is also Become a big worry.

In 2014, Han Yusheng founded the genetic testing company, which is aimed at improving the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, especially lung cancer. At the time, many venture capital companies including Sequoia Capital China Fund invested.

Han Yusheng is one of the early promoters of biotechnology development in China, and biotechnology has become the most popular investment field for venture capital. According to McKinsey research, the total amount of private equity/risk fund raised by Chinese startups last year. Nearly $40 billion, including biotechnology-focused healthcare health The industry's investment reached 12 billion US dollars. Although the growth rate of venture capital flowing into other science and technology fields has slowed down this year, the total amount of Chinese private equity/risk funds raised in the first half of the year has reached 32 billion US dollars, of which the wind investment in biotechnology field has reached 7.8 billion US dollars.

China Renaissance, an investment bank based in Beijing, estimates that the amount of venture capital in China's biotech sector will break the record last year. Many internationally renowned private equity firms, such as the US General Atlantic and the US Warburg Pincus has also become the 'big gold lord' of investing in Chinese biotechnology companies.

There are many reasons to continue to be optimistic about the development of biotechnology in mainland China. Many scientists believe that the next round of medical breakthroughs will come from the fusion of information technology and biotechnology by Professor Kenneth Oye of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Xie Wei, co-founder of Huaxing Capital and head of the life sciences department, said: 'The key question is whether Chinese startups can complete the transition from 'fast followers' to 'real innovators'. Perhaps capital is not a problem, but capital itself cannot Come to true innovation. '

Han Yusheng, CEO of Burning Stone Medicine, frankly: 'The gap between China and the United States in basic research is still great. But in China Talent There are many opportunities. In the field of life sciences, we will catch up. The gap in technology with the United States is disappearing.

Ben Shobert is the founder of Rubicon Strategy Group, National Institute of Asian Medical health care Industry experts. In his view, the prerequisites for the development of the biotechnology industry are government incentives and government funds, moderate regulation, human resources, active venture capital, university research institutions and private companies, and sufficient returns on innovation.

Currently recognized in the industry disease For example, the early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer will come from the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to the personal health data of a large number of people. And this is the most favorable condition for the development of biotechnology in China: Compared with any other country, China has The number of personal health data is much larger and the usage restrictions are relatively small.

In addition, China is gradually building on the US approach to build an ecosystem of biotechnology development. Han Yusheng said that Chinese regulators are 'moving in a more correct direction,' which is in stark contrast to the regulatory environment more than 10 years ago. Although there have been many criticisms, China is rapidly improving its intellectual property protection.

However, there is still a darker aspect of China's life science development: China's focus on privacy rights is far less than that of the United States. Just as US regulators believe that financial data threatens national security, their extreme importance to US citizen medical data privacy protection is even more important. In addition, there are too few restrictions on human clinical trials in China. The recent vaccine incident is only the latest in a series of similar scandals. These factors have also led to the US Foreign Investment Committee’s review of investment in the United States. More and more focus on the life sciences industry.

At present, there are few other industries like life sciences. China and the United States are so closely intertwined and mutually reinforcing.

Ben Shobert pointed out that since 2012, the volume of R&D transactions involving Chinese biotech companies has increased by 70%. Licensing is a key area of ​​cooperation between the two companies. And the previous cooperation has been a one-sided situation, usually only Pfizer, new American biopharmaceutical companies and other well-known pharmaceutical companies such as Fosun medicine Such large biopharmaceutical companies carry out patent licenses for original drugs.

However, the Financial Times stressed that this one-sided situation is changing now. McKinsey research data shows that in the past year, China has obtained 27 patent licenses from US pharmaceutical companies, while mainland pharmaceutical companies have patented US pharmaceutical companies. Four licenses, such as Yaoming Biological and Baekje Shenzhou, grant patent licenses to US pharmaceutical companies including Shinki Biopharma. In addition, some US pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, set up venture capital institutions in China for mainland organisms. Technology companies provide funding and talent.