A forum on new trends in bioeconomic development during the 2023 Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week and the Ninth Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Summit Forum.

The 2023 Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week and the Ninth Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Summit Forum opened Dec. 12 at the Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pingshan District. Domestic and international talents and leading enterprises gathered at the forum to discuss trends and opportunities in the industry, and cutting-edge technologies in biomedicine and health were also showcased.

Several major projects were signed during the summit, including the strategic cooperation memorandum signed between the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and Siemens Healthineers Ltd. for cooperation in technological innovation, product manufacturing, application and promotion. Microport Neurotech, Hepai-Tech, Henlius, HaploX, Dade Chuangtong and Sinorda also signed agreements with district governments including Nanshan, Longgang, Guangming and Pingshan.

At the opening ceremony, the National Engineering Research Center for Key Common Technologies in the Cell Industry was unveiled, and the Responsibility Letter of the National Industrial Innovation Center for Bio-manufacturing was signed. A significant highlight of the summit was the release of five high-end medical devices and five innovative drugs, showcasing the innovative strength of Shenzhen enterprises. 

Attendees pose for a photo during the 2023 Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week and the Ninth Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Summit Forum.

Edge Medical introduced a single-arm single-port surgical robot, capable of performing Level 4 surgeries such as the radical cervical cancer surgery through just one incision on the body surface. Sibionics launched a continuous glucose monitoring system that can monitor blood sugar for 14 consecutive days, accurately obtaining dynamic changes in blood sugar levels and trends, thus helping diabetic patients escape the pain and inconvenience of fingertip blood collection. Other high-end medical devices included Peninsula’s ultrasound therapeutic apparatus and Tencent Health’s electronic colon polyp endoscopic imaging software for auxiliary detection.

Among the five innovative drugs, Salubris developed a product for renal anemia, which efficiently improves high iron metabolism in patients, achieving an 85.3% standard hemoglobin rate after seven to nine weeks of medication. HighTide’s HTD1801, a first-in-class drug, is currently in Phase 3 clinical trial for Type 2 diabetes indications. Other innovative drugs released at the forum included ONC201 by CR Sanjiu and LBP-01 by Xbiome.

The summit invited several domestic and international biomedical industry leaders to deliver keynote speeches and dialogues. Cai Lei, former vice president of JD Group, is an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient. He shared his experience in conquering ALS through a video presentation. After four years of effort, Cai and his team have built the world’s largest ALS research data platform, linking over 100,000 ALS patients.

John Roger Speakman delivers a speech during the 2023 Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week and the Ninth Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Summit Forum.

John Roger Speakman, a professor from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in his speech that he and his team have established a platform, hoping to better select corresponding drugs to extend human lifespan.

Ten sub-forums focused on surgical robots, medical devices, life science research, synthetic biology and green biology manufacturing, biomedicine entrepreneurship and biomedicine investment strategies, among others. 

Other activities around the city during the Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week are focusing on pharmaceutical innovation, cutting-edge technology, interdisciplinary integration and collaboration between medicine and enterprises, among other themes.