Date: September 26, 2015

The 11th Pacific Forum of the Sino-American Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SABPA) was grandly held on September 26 in San Diego. Approximately 500 representatives from more than 50 biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical firms, investment institutions, and service organizations from China and the United States attended the forum.

Among the speakers were Mr. Lü Xianzhi, Science and Technology Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles; Dr. Lu Xianping, President of Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co., Ltd.; Dr. Zhang Fangning from McKinsey’s Shanghai office; and Dr. Zhang Zhimin, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center, along with a total of 18 distinguished guests. Opening and closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Shi Tao, Chairman of SABPA Pacific, and Dr. Zhang Mingzhu, former President of SABPA, respectively.

The first session of the afternoon was the award ceremony for the SABPA Pacific Life Sciences Achievement Award. The recipient of this inaugural award was Dr. Lu Xianping, President of Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co., Ltd., and the award was presented by Dr. Zhu Huichun, Executive Director of the SABPA Board and former President.

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Lu delivered an acceptance speech, in which he reviewed the development journey of Chipscreen Biosciences, with particular emphasis on its successful independent development of a novel epigenetic anti-tumor drug—Chidamide. Chidamide is an orally administered anti-cancer drug primarily targeting relapsed and refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and has been granted global patent protection. It is among the most advanced subtype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in oral formulation worldwide, and compared with earlier broad-spectrum inhibitors, it demonstrates significantly lower cytotoxicity and improved epigenetic regulatory effects.

During the conference, a reporter from San Diego Chinese News interviewed Dr. Lu Xianping, the award recipient, on topics including the prospects for U.S.-China and Pacific-region collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry, and how to continue developing affordable medicines accessible to the general public.

It is also noted that in 2008, SABPA presented the San Diego Biomedical Achievement Award to Dr. Qian Xuesen, a world-renowned Chinese-American scientist and professor at the University of California system, who later received one of the highest honors in the United States—the National Medal of Science—in 2011.