Scientists, doctors, and investors in the diabetes field gathered at Hui Lecture Hall to discuss new drug development and clinical challenges.

Recently, scientists, clinicians, and financial investors in the field of sugar metabolism diseases gathered at the Hujiang Lecture Hall of SIP-LSU Health Sciences College to engage in an open exchange and lively discussion with professors from the same institution. Together, they explored key topics such as "Next-generation drug development strategies and strategic planning for sugar metabolism disorders and their related diseases," sharing insights into emerging trends in drug innovation as well as addressing the challenges inherent in both research and clinical applications.

Dr. Tong Wang, Chief Scientist at Shengshi Taikang Biopharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., kicked off this session of the Hui Lecture Series with a lecture titled "New Drug Development for Glycometabolism and Related Diseases."

Dr. Wang Tong analyzed and summarized the current state of the diabetes market, covering aspects such as the disease’s pathogenesis, etiology, evolving classification systems, complications, patient demographics, and key market dynamics, as well as China’s unique epidemiological characteristics of diabetes. He also provided an overview of glucose metabolism–related conditions—such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorders, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and foot ulcers—that often arise as secondary complications of diabetes. Finally, using Shengshitaike and its flagship products as examples, Dr. Wang shared insights into cutting-edge advancements in drug discovery and development targeting specific pathways involved in glucose metabolism and its related disorders.

During the roundtable session, chaired by Professor Fu Lei, Vice Dean of SIP-LSU Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (pictured below), several industry experts engaged in an in-depth discussion on "Future directions for drug development, clinical challenges, and strategic planning in next-generation sugar metabolism and its related diseases."

Dr. Shao Xinyu, Director of the Department of Endocrinology at Suzhou University Affiliated Dushu Lake Hospital (pictured below), shared insights into the latest clinical trends in diabetes and its related conditions, discussed the current growth patterns of diabetic patients, highlighted individual variations, addressed challenges in treatment, and outlined cutting-edge therapeutic approaches and emerging directions in this field.

Regarding the demand for innovative drugs, he noted that, from a clinical treatment perspective, many existing medications for diabetes focus solely on lowering blood sugar levels. However, doctors are not just looking for drugs that simply reduce glucose—they’re hoping for therapies that also offer protection for the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, safeguard kidney function, or even aid in weight management. Such benefits would make a drug far more valuable in practice.

Dr. Wang Tong responded by saying that despite the large population of diabetes patients, China's current medications for treating diabetes "seem somewhat outdated."

According to the 2018 Top 10 list of generic names for diabetes medications used in China's public medical institutions, acarbose ranked first, insulin occupied four of the top spots, and metformin showed the highest growth rate.

Dr. Wang noted that these older medications come with certain limitations and associated side effects. "For example, acarbose must be taken right before meals to ensure optimal effectiveness—and it can also cause gastrointestinal side effects. Meanwhile, glimepiride may lead to hypoglycemia," he explained. "For some individuals, these side effects could even be life-threatening. Yet despite this, the usage of these relatively outdated drugs continues to grow rapidly in China, which is why we urgently need to update and replace them with newer, safer alternatives."

He further emphasized that targeting blood sugar reduction alone is not enough when it comes to advancing drug innovation. "High blood sugar can damage both blood vessels and nerves, which is why diabetes often leads to a wide range of complications and related conditions—such as eye diseases, kidney failure, cardiovascular issues, foot problems, obesity, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, among others. Given the high prevalence of these complications and eye-related disorders, we must ensure that our focus in developing next-generation diabetes treatments goes beyond simply lowering blood sugar; instead, we need to address the broader spectrum of derived diseases and complications as well."

Dr. Yan Shunfei, Investment Manager at Fosun • Star Future Capital (pictured below), shared insights from an investor’s perspective on the challenges facing new drug development. He pointed out that the R&D of innovative medicines is likely to be constrained by future market price dynamics. For instance, many patients are highly sensitive to drug costs—so even when a more effective, cutting-edge treatment becomes available, numerous patients may hesitate to pay the premium price, opting instead to wait until the drug’s patent expires and its cost drops significantly before considering it.

The Hui Lecture Series, hosted by the Xipu Huigu School of Pharmacy, is a monthly flagship event that features two main segments: the Cutting-Edge Medicine Series and the Science Communication Series. Dedicated to sharing the latest academic advancements and industry trends in biomedicine with researchers and professionals in the biopharmaceutical sector, the series also aims to educate the public by introducing accessible, science-based knowledge on topics like biomedicine, health, and nutrition.