A batch of technological innovation projects covering the main industries of the national economy, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been progressively unveiled. The Guangdong Department of Science and Technology has officially issued the "Notice of the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology on the Issuance of the 2020 'Science and Technology Helping the Economy 2020' Key Special Project Plan", in which the project "Drug Development for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy of COVID-19", led by Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("Beike Biotech"), was successfully selected as a recommended project under the "Guangdong Science and Technology Helping the Economy 2020" key special project.
The "Science and Technology Helping the Economy 2020" key special project is a national key R&D program initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology to implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on coordinating epidemic prevention and control with key economic and social development work, and to actively and orderly drive enterprises to resume work and production. It aims to support a batch of technological innovation projects covering the main industries of the national economy – especially projects with the deployment of technological outcomes that can deliver real results in the short term and directly drive the resumption of work and production.
Founded in 2005, Beike Biotech is a National High-Tech Enterprise that was among the first in China to specialize in the clinical translation and technical service of biotherapeutic technologies in strategic emerging industries. Having worked deeply in the cell industry for 15 years, Beike Biotech now possesses a top-tier, mature stem cell research team and frontier cell storage and preparation technologies. The innovative "Comprehensive Cell Bank + Regional Cell Intelligent-Manufacturing Center + Cell Quality Inspection Platform" industrial development model provides a complete technology platform and infrastructure for the clinical translation of cell therapy technology.
During the pandemic, Beike Biotech has been on the front line of the response, responding to the country's call in the shortest time and the fastest manner, and committing research strength to the treatment of severe patients infected with 2019-nCoV. In partnership with the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, the company applied for and was granted approval for the project "Clinical Research on Treating Severe Pneumonia Caused by Coronavirus with Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells" under the 2020 Guangdong Emergency Special Project on Scientific and Technological Tackling for the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus by the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology. At the same time, the clinical research on mesenchymal stem cell therapy for critically ill COVID-19 patients, jointly carried out by Beike Biotech with multiple medical institutions in Yunnan, has produced milestone results, with the article "Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Combination with Antiviral and Other Methods for the Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia" published, contributing to the fight against the pandemic.
In addition, Beike Biotech has consistently pursued R&D and innovation in the cell field, actively participating in clinical research on mesenchymal stem cells for intractable diseases, and has co-published more than 100 papers in domestic and international journals together with clinical institutions. The Beike Biotech research outcome "Key Technical Innovation and Clinical Application of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Treating Refractory Lupus Erythematosus" received the 2019 National Technological Invention Award!
Guangdong Province received a total of RMB 29.5 million in special project funding in this round, supporting 49 enterprises across multiple fields, including biomedicine and life and health, artificial intelligence and energy materials.
