Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-11-19 13:38Core Viewpoint - The recent visual competition between Merck and Wantai Biopharma at the Xiamen Vaccine Conference highlights the complexities of China's pharmaceutical industry as it seeks to break through technological barriers and challenge international monopolies [5][6]. Group 1: Technological Innovations - Merck's HPV nine-valent vaccine utilizes a globally pioneering technology platform that achieves correct folding of virus-like particles (VLPs), leading to its approval in 112 countries and over 300 million doses administered [5]. - Wantai Biopharma has developed a proprietary prokaryotic expression system that allows for effective VLP formation without complex glycosylation modifications, evidenced by its award-winning patent for a truncated HPV L1 protein [5][6]. - Both vaccines have undergone rigorous clinical validation, with Wantai's nine-valent vaccine demonstrating non-inferiority in neutralizing antibody levels and 100% efficacy against five new high-risk types, while Merck has the longest follow-up data of 13.6 years [5]. Group 2: Market Impact - The entry of Wantai's bivalent vaccine has significantly reduced the price of HPV vaccines in China from over 1,000 yuan to 329 yuan, making it more accessible and benefiting millions of women [6]. - Wantai's global sales have surpassed 80 million doses, reaching 23 countries, providing new options for vaccine distribution in developing nations [6]. - Wantai's technological breakthroughs have navigated the "patent jungle" in the HPV vaccine field, creating a viable path for independent innovation in China's biopharmaceutical industry [6]. Group 3: Marketing and Competition - The marketing strategies employed by both companies, particularly Merck's insinuation of defects in Wantai's product, could mislead consumers and undermine public trust in vaccines [7]. - Both companies have unique strengths that can complement each other in the market, with Wantai enhancing grassroots vaccination rates and Merck expanding the demographic reach of HPV protection [7]. - The HPV vaccine market in China remains underdeveloped, with low vaccination rates among eligible women, indicating that aggressive marketing battles may waste resources and distract from research and capacity building [7][8]. Group 4: Industry Transition - The Chinese pharmaceutical industry is at a critical juncture, transitioning from imitation to innovation, and from following to leading in global markets [8]. - Establishing competitive norms that align with industry characteristics while maintaining competitive vitality poses a challenge for regulators and companies alike [8].