Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of Baili Tianheng, a Chengdu-based biopharmaceutical company, and its founder Zhu Yi, who has recently been labeled as "Sichuan's richest man" due to the company's soaring market value. Zhu Yi emphasizes that this title is merely "paper wealth" and expresses more pressure than honor [1]. Group 1: New Drug Development - Baili Tianheng's core product, iza-bren (BL-B01D1), is a first-in-class dual antibody ADC that has achieved a 100% objective response rate (ORR) in clinical trials for treating EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer [2][6]. - The company has submitted a listing application to the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and expects approval around June 2026, with a later launch in the U.S. anticipated by 2029 [6][10]. - The drug has been in development for over 10 years, with the research starting in 2014, highlighting the long timeline required for original innovation in the pharmaceutical industry [6][10]. Group 2: Investment and Expansion Plans - Baili Tianheng plans to invest an additional 2 billion yuan (approximately 0.3 billion USD) in a new facility in Chengdu Medical City, which will include a large workshop, transformation center, and laboratory [8][10]. - The new facility is expected to support the nationwide and partial global supply of iza-bren, with projected annual sales exceeding 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.5 billion USD) once production reaches 70% capacity [10]. Group 3: Future Aspirations - Zhu Yi aims for Baili Tianheng to become a leading multinational corporation (MNC) in oncology treatment within five years, with global commercialization expected by 2029 [11]. - The company is focusing on maintaining global leadership in research and development, clinical development capabilities, and supply chain management as key indicators of becoming an entry-level MNC [11]. Group 4: Chengdu's Biopharmaceutical Environment - Chengdu is seen as an advantageous location for biopharmaceutical development due to its improving business environment and the stability of its research teams, which is crucial for successful drug development [15][17]. - Zhu Yi notes that Chengdu's ability to attract high-end talent has improved, and he suggests further enhancements in policies related to international schools and healthcare for expatriates to boost talent attraction [16].
独家对话丨朱义:百利天恒在蓉新增投资有望实现百亿元年产值