From Hai Xuan
Endostar, a new cancer drug, was approved by the China’s State Food and Drug Administration in September, 2005 and hailed in December as one the China Ten Top News for 2005 in Science and Technology in China, as reported by Science and Technology Daily (December 27, 2005).
Developed by Dr. Luo Yongzhang, a Tsinghua University professor and president and chief scientist of Yantai Medgenn,Co., Ltd., Endostar inhibits the growth of vascular systems around tumors and choke off tumors’ blood supply. It is the first anti-angiogenesis drug developed in China, and has significant potential for profitability.
Endostar has many breakthroughs in drug design and preparation techniques. The application of these innovations will dramatically decrease Endostar’s production costs, making it affordable for most patients.
Endostar’s development, Dr. Luo maintains, could be revolutionary. Several major U.S. pharmaceutical companies are in talks with his company to license the drug for use in the U.S.. Four cancer patients in Boston, who used to take a similar drug which have stopped producing for financial reasons have high expectations for Endostar to restrict tumor growth.
The development of Endostar was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National 863 Projects. Two patents already have been authorized, one by the China Patent Office and the other US patent Office. The discovery has attracted much attention in China.
