Start a New Journey of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control after a Decade of Efforts

      On May 10, 2020, Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhifei, held a grand press conference on the launch of new product Recombinant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Fusion Protein (EC, Yika®) derived from independent development over more than a decade. The press conference was convened at three venues, i.e. Beijing, Chongqing and Hefei, through the point-to-point on-line live broadcast. The attendees at the press conference included Mr. Jin Qi, Leader of Tuberculosis Expert Group of National Major Scientific and Technological Projects for Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Diseases, Ms. Cheng Shiming, Secretary General of Chinese Antituberculosis Association and Deputy Leader of Tuberculosis Expert Group of National Major Scientific and Technological Projects for Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Diseases, Mr. He Yong, Deputy District Chief and Member of Leading Party Members' Group of Jiangbei District Government of Chongqing, Ms. Wu Lihua, Secretary of Leading Party Members' Group and Director of Anhui Province Medical Products Administration, Mr. Fang Xiangmin, Member of Work Committee and Deputy Director of Management Committee of Hefei High-tech Industrial Development Zone, other leaders, experts and news media people. Mr. Jiang Rensheng, Board Chairman of Zhifei, attended the press conference together with the management personnel of Zhifei Longcom.

The epidemic trend of tuberculosis in China is very severe. China ranks second among the 30 countries with high burden of tuberculosis, and reports roughly 900,000 new cases of tuberculosis annually. Tuberculosis ranks second in Class A and Class B notifiable infectious diseases in China. As a major infectious disease, tuberculosis has been threatening the national health of China, and its special pathological mechanism makes it become an elusive target. Anhui Zhifei Longcom has been deeply engaged in the field of tuberculosis prevention and control. After ten years of unremitting efforts, the new diagnostic technology, i.e. Recombinant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Fusion Protein (EC, Yika®), is brought into the market, as an innovative reagent in terms of tuberculosis detection around the world in nearly 100 years, which is expected to contribute to the tuberculosis prevention and control. At the press conference, Mr. Pu Jiang, General Manager of Zhifei Longcom, introduced Yika®.

According to Mr. Jin Qi, Leader of Tuberculosis Expert Group of National Major Scientific and Technological Projects for Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Diseases, Yika® is a National Category 1 new drug, and also one of the key products supported by National Science and Technology Major Project. At present, the product is a new “sharp weapon” to distinguish the BCG vaccination from tuberculosis infection, and overcome the challenge that the large-scale population screening is not applicable for tuberculosis screening, providing the basis for immune prevention of tuberculosis.

Ms. Cheng Shiming, Secretary General of Chinese Antituberculosis Association, believes that the launch and application of Yika® will play a very important role in strengthening new measures and methods of tuberculosis prevention and control in China, screening and preventive intervention for key groups with latent tuberculosis infection, clinical auxiliary diagnosis of tuberculosis patients and research on national tuberculosis immunization strategy.

According to Mr. He Yong, Deputy District Chief of Jiangbei District Government of Chongqing, the Recombinant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Fusion Protein successfully launched by Zhifei will create more possibilities for targeted prevention or tuberculosis treatment and further improve the public health in China, leaving a milestone in the history of human health.

In the speech, Mr. Fang Xiangmin, Member of Work Committee and Deputy Director of Management Committee of Hefei High-tech Industrial Development Zone, said that the product Yika® has broken through the disadvantages and bottlenecks of previous tuberculosis diagnosis products, so that it is more simple and effective to identify the people infected with tubercle bacillus. After more than ten years’ hard working and independent innovation, Zhifei Longcom has carved out a “high-tech road” and realized the “intelligent” manufacturing in China.

We remain true to our original aspiration. Mr. Jiang Rensheng, Board Chairman of Zhifei, said, “We respect life. Only when we develop more affordable and effective vaccines can we really control diseases. This is a health dream that I, Zhifei and vaccine practitioners pursue unswervingly!”

Year 2020 is a year of crucial ending for the “13th Five-Year Plan” and a year of decisive victory for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. According to the requirements of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control and the Tuberculosis Control Plan 2019-2022, it is urgent to curb tuberculosis. Upholding the company tenet “Social benefits go before corporate profits” for years, Zhifei is dedicated to the public health, actively responds to the global tuberculosis prevention and control initiative, always supports the prevention and control of tuberculosis, and has made a systematic product layout in the diagnosis and prevention of tuberculosis. Yika®, the research achievement of Zhifei over more than ten years, has been included and supported by six “National Science and Technology Major Projects”. According to the data of the completed human clinical trials, its sensitivity to tubercle bacillus infection and its specificity of tuberculosis diagnosis are extremely consistent with those of the methods recommended by WHO and FDA of the US, featuring accurate screening, reliable results, high specificity and sensitivity.

Early screening, early detection, early treatment. The lauch of Yika® has filled in the gaps in tubercle bacillus infection and tuberculosis diagnosis in China, and enhanced the feasibility of large-scale tuberculosis screening, thereby benefiting more people in China. We believe that the launch of Yika® will be a new milestone for Zhifei and even for the entire domestic biomedical industry. In the future, Zhifei will continue to insist on innovative research and development to provide strong support for China’s tuberculosis prevention and control with high-quality products and contribute to the successful realization of “Healthy China 2030” blueprint as early as possible!