On December 22, 2023, PUMCH hosted the Frontier Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Development Forum, as well as the Annual Academic Meeting of the “Beijing Key Laboratory for Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Research of Innovative Drugs”. Captivating academic reports were delivered by Academician Yang Baofeng from Harbin Medical University, Academician Xia Ningshao from Xiamen University, and Academician Zhang Qiang from Peking University. PUMCH President Zhang Shuyang and PUMCH Vice President Wu Peixin also attended the event. Themed “Focusing on the Frontier and Promoting Innovative Drug Development”, the conference brought together authoritative experts and young scholars with expertise in innovative drug research to discuss the driving forces and future development of innovative drug development in China.

▲Group photo of the Academic Committee of the Beijing Key Laboratory and the key members of the laboratory

Academician Yang Baofeng delivered a presentation titled “Advances and Challenges in Research of Nucleic Acid-based Drugs”, starting with the drug developability of RNA. He analyzed the characteristics of nucleic acid drugs, including their advantages of long-lasting therapeutic effects and insusceptibility to drug resistance. Given the short half-life of current nucleic acid-based drugs, he proposed to improve their stability through chemical modifications and delivery systems.

▲Academician Yang Baofeng

Academician Xia Ningshao introduced three vaccines that his team had developed and successfully translated: the world’s first particle-based hepatitis E vaccine, the first second-generation HPV vaccine in China, and the world’s first intranasal influenza-vectored COVID-19 vaccine. He systematically explained the process from empirical screening to rational design strategies for vaccines and expressed a grand vision for future vaccines that can provide lifelong protection.

▲Academician Xia Ningshao

In his presentation “Progress and Challenges in the Research of Nano Drugs”, Academician Zhang Qiang talked about the bright market prospects of nano drugs. He also pointed out the existing gap between basic research and translation for polymeric nano drugs in China and the uneven development of formulations between China and abroad. Academician Zhang then shared representative work done by his team, including novel emulsification techniques, and concepts and technologies concerning nanoparticle oral delivery, cellular transport and active targeted delivery in anti-tumor therapy.

▲Academician Zhang Qiang

Vice President Wu Peixin earnestly encouraged young researchers to learn from their predecessors’ scientific thinking and methods as well as their persistence and dedication to research. Drawing on their spirit, the young will be more motivated to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward, injecting new vitality into the medical and pharmaceutical development of China.

Professor Xu Huaqiang from Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Zhang Jianmin from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Ba Yi, Director of the Department of Oncology at PUMCH, and Professor Wang Miao from Fuwai Hospital were also engaged in the discussions. The meeting was chaired by Professor Han Xiaohong, Director of the Clinical Pharmacology Center.

▲The conference

Translated by Liu Haiyan

Reviewed by Wang Hongyun and Wang Yao