Innovation Receives Further Recognition: Sitagliptin Selected for Special Support under Jiangsu Province's Science and Technology Program

Recently, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology released the "Public Notice of Proposed Projects for the 2023 Provincial Science and Technology Program Special Funds (Key R&D Program in Social Development)." Shengshi Taikе's independently developed next-generation, highly selective DPP-4 inhibitor, senglitin, has been included in the 2023 Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Program's proposed list of biomedical projects eligible for special funding.

The Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Program Special Fund is designed to address major innovation needs driving Jiangsu's economic and social development. It supports various innovation entities in Jiangsu by funding basic research, tackling critical core technologies, building and operating innovative platforms, and bolstering the province's high-level innovation ecosystem. Ultimately, the fund aims to promote a more scientific and efficient allocation of science and technology resources, enhancing the overall effectiveness of scientific and technological innovation outputs. Currently, Jiangsu Province has nearly 6,000 biomedical enterprises in total. This year, the province’s special science and technology program has carefully selected more than 20 innovative biomedical products as candidate projects for approval.

The inclusion of the sotagliflozin project was based on its continuous, innovative achievements during the clinical development phase. From as early as Phase 1 clinical trials, sotagliflozin adopted a novel drug-development approach guided by quantitative pharmacology modeling—and Pioneered the first instance in China's DPP-4 field where quantitative pharmacology modeling was used to directly skip Phase II and proceed directly to Phase III clinical trials.

At the Peking University Diabetes Forum held this May, Professor Ji Linong, Director of the Department of Endocrinology at Peking University People's Hospital, announced the data and results from two Phase III clinical trials of sotagliflozin. , a low dose was sufficient to achieve the pre-specified trial endpoint, while the high-dose group also demonstrated excellent drug safety. "Efficient and effective treatment results make it poised to become the leading glucose-lowering drug in its class." Currently, senglatagliptin has been submitted to the National Medical Products Administration as an NDA (New Drug Application) and has been accepted for review.

After listening to Professor Ji Linong's presentation, Professor Hong Tianpei, Vice Chairman of the Endocrinology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, stated: "As a Class 1.1 new drug independently developed by a Chinese company, Senglitin has shown us exceptionally promising clinical data—particularly its ability to skip Phase II trials and move directly into Phase III. Remarkably, the comparison between the two dosage groups highlights the advantage of a lower effective dose and improved safety profile, leaving us eagerly anticipating this product’s early market launch."

Founded in 2010 in Suzhou Industrial Park, Shengshi Taikе is a biotechnology company now in the commercialization phase. Its core team boasts decades of international experience across the entire lifecycle of pharmaceutical products, dedicated to the research, development, and industrialization of high-quality, differentiated small-molecule innovative drugs. Leveraging an integrated drug R&D technology platform and a diversified business perspective, the company has built a robust pipeline of cutting-edge therapies, spanning multiple therapeutic areas including diabetes management, cancer treatment, and autoimmune diseases.