Shengshi Taikе Receives Approval and Support for the "13th Five-Year National Major New Drug Development Program"

Recently, the Research Center for Pharmaceutical and Health Technology Development under the National Health and Family Planning Commission officially issued the "Notice on 2018 Project Proposals for the Major National Science and Technology Special Project on 'Major New Drug Creation'" to enterprises that have received project approval support. Shengshi Taikang's project, "Research and Development of ESP-8012, a Novel Antidiabetic Drug Belonging to Class 1 Chemical Entities—a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor," has been approved under the national major new drug creation initiative during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Additionally, the company has already received the first installment of central government financial support earmarked for 2018, marking the successful integration of this project into the nation’s priority pipeline for innovative drug development.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the major national science and technology project on "Major New Drug Development" focused primarily on critical diseases such as malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions, drug-resistant pathogen infections, and viral infections. The initiative places key emphasis on supporting the research and development of innovative chemical, traditional Chinese medicine, and biologic drugs—particularly those with independent intellectual property rights, significant clinical value, and strong market potential—that are currently in preclinical or clinical stages. It also encourages the development of advantageous, distinctive fixed-dose combination therapies, as well as cutting-edge drug delivery technologies and novel formulations. Looking ahead to long-term needs, the program actively promotes the translation and application of the latest breakthroughs from both domestic and international basic research in new drug development, while fostering innovation in identifying novel drug targets and advancing the discovery of groundbreaking therapeutics based on these emerging targets and mechanisms of action.

China is a global leader in diabetes, currently home to over 100 million people living with the condition—more than any other country in the world. In May 2017, Shengshi Taikang Biopharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. received approval from the National Medical Products Administration to initiate clinical trials for its Class 1 innovative drug, phosphate sengliflozin, intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Currently, Shengshi Taikang has partnered with institutions such as Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital to conduct Phase I clinical trials of phosphate sengliflozin. As a DPP-4 inhibitor, this drug stands out for its ability to avoid hypoglycemia and weight gain, while also offering cardiovascular protection. Moreover, given that Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes often experience more severe damage to their pancreatic beta cells compared to patients in Europe and North America—precisely the area where DPP-4 inhibitors excel by helping to restore beta-cell function—these medications are increasingly recognized as particularly beneficial for Chinese patients. As a result, DPP-4 inhibitors are gaining wider acceptance among physicians in China.

Shengshi Taikе has assembled a elite team of professionals from the biopharmaceutical industry. Driven by the real needs of patients, we developed Shengglitine, a Class 1 novel antidiabetic drug, offering new hope to China's 114 million diabetes sufferers. Compared with the world's leading antidiabetic medications available today, Shengglitine demonstrates superior efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, positioning it as a strong contender to become the first domestically developed, independently researched and approved new diabetes treatment to hit the market.