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Hou Xuemei: Focused on innovative drug research for thirty-two years, benefiting millions of patients.
Release time:
2019-04-12
From the special topic: Guangdong News Broadcast Guangdong Satellite TV News Broadcast "Patriotic Feelings and Strivers" series report: Hou Xuemei is the chief scientist of Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Research Institute. She has focused on research and development for 32 years in her scientific research position, leading the team to develop a new drug for the digestive field, Esomeprazole, which has become a milestone in the history of new drug development in China. Let's turn the clock back to 2001. At that time, 70% of domestic gastrointestinal medications were proton pump inhibitors, and the four drugs on the market were all monopolized by foreign large enterprises, making the Price very expensive. Hou Xuemei made up her mind that to break the monopoly, she had to carve out a bloody path and create her own innovative drug. Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Research Institute Chief Scientist.
From the special topic: Guangdong News Broadcast
Guangdong Satellite TV News Broadcast "Patriotic Feelings, Strivers" series report: Hou Xuemei is the chief scientist of the Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Research Institute. She has focused on research and development for 32 years in her scientific research position, leading the team to develop a new drug for the digestive field, Esomeprazole, which has become a milestone in the history of new drug development in China.
Rewind to 2001, at that time, 70% of domestic gastrointestinal medications were proton pump inhibitors, and the four drugs on the market were all monopolized by foreign large enterprises, making them very expensive. Hou Xuemei was determined to break the monopoly and create her own innovative drug.
Hou Xuemei, chief scientist of the Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Research Institute, said: "At that time, making this kind of innovative drug required a huge investment from the laboratory, so there were many opposing voices. You either don't do it, or if you do, you must make innovative drugs that truly allow the public to afford good and reliable medications."
Transforming laboratory seedlings into marketable products is a completely different concept. Hou Xuemei knew that every year, the National Intellectual Property Administration authorizes tens of thousands of patents for effective compounds, but the number of innovative drugs that can be industrialized and brought to market is very few. Moreover, problems kept emerging during the research and development process. Due to the complex structure of Esomeprazole, which is sensitive to light, heat, and moisture, it degrades quickly if not handled carefully. After repeated testing failures, some team members even had thoughts of giving up. But as the project leader, Hou Xuemei persisted.
Hou Xuemei said: "Sometimes it really feels like there is no way out. Some people say that since it is so unstable, we should not do it. I said that’s not acceptable; ice cream is also unstable, so I have to find ways to stabilize it."
After more than a decade of perseverance, there were finally rewards. Hou Xuemei led the team to overcome difficulties at various stages and finally independently developed China's first Class 1 patent new drug Esomeprazole in the digestive field, which is the only approved innovative drug for production in Guangdong Province. It solved the problems of slow onset, short duration, large individual differences, and high Price of imported similar drugs. She also received the second prize for national scientific and technological progress in 2015 as the first contributor. Esomeprazole enteric-coated tablets have been on the market for nearly ten years and have helped over 7.5 million patients with gastrointestinal diseases relieve their pain.
Hou Xuemei said: "Our goal is to allow more people to use good medicines. The road to developing innovative drugs is very long and full of difficulties, but we will continue to tackle challenges and contribute to a healthy China."
Source: Guangdong Radio and Television Station "Guangdong News Broadcast"
Reporter: Lin Jiebin, Luo Wenhui
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