“Previously, whenever my team discussed cancer, I felt very frustrated because they would always talk about extending life. Everyone knows that while life may be extended, the quality of life often remains low. However, our CAR-T cell therapy demonstrates that cancer can be cured.” by Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International.

Cure

How can cancer be cured?

Qin is the first lymphoma patient in China to receive CAR-T cell therapy. After going through 12 rounds of chemotherapy without managing her condition, she enrolled in a CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. Qin has now been cancer-free for over six years, having successfully being cured.

What makes CAR-T cell therapy¹so remarkable that it transformed Qin's journey from battling cancer to being cured?

T cells + CARs (Chimeric Antigen Receptors)→CAR-T cell therapy

The mechanism of CAR-T cell therapy involves collecting T cells from the patient and re-engineering them. These re-engineered T cells are then bound to CARs and proliferated to enhance their anti-tumor effects. After that, they are infused back into to the patient. This process enables the T cells to identify and effectively kill tumor cells, ultimately curing cancer.

¹CAR-T cell therapy (chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy) is a new type of precision-targeted therapy for the treatment of cancer

Qin's case is not an isolated incident. Fosun has gathered more data demonstrating successful treatment outcomes

More than 800 lymphoma patients in China have benefited from Fosun’s CAR-T cell therapy

The success rate for commercialization of CAR-T cell therapy product exceeds 90%, surpassing the international average

The 12-month overall survival rate is as high as 80.4%

What innovations has Fosun introduced in the pursuit of cure?

First and foremost, it’s about vision and efficiency. Before the launch of the world’s first CAR-T cell therapy product, Fosun Pharma partnered with Kite Pharma in the U.S. to establish a joint venture, Fosun Kite.This joint venture concentrated on introducing CAR-T cell therapy and advancing its local research and development (R&D) and production in China. The first step was to complete the technology transfer. Unlike standard imported drugs, CAR-T cell therapy products are essentially"customized"for each patient.

How is it customized?

CAR-T cell therapy is an "active cell product" tailored for each patient, with each patient representing a unique batch and production line. It implies that Fosun's CAR-T cell therapy platform is responsible for managing the entire production process.

Additionally, the preparation of CAR-T cell therapy products is highly complex.

Fosun built its CAR-T cell therapy platform from the ground up, from building production facilities, to establishing R&D centers, training technical teams, and advancing regulatory approvals. It also conducted rigorous clinical trials to ensure safety and address ethnic differences related to CAR-T cell therapy products.

Ultimately, Fosun successfully received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), marking a successful technology transfer. The locally produced CAR-T cell therapy product,Yikaida^®, and the U.S. product, Yescarta^®, are consistent in terms of efficacy and safety.

Yikaida^® is the 13th CAR-T cell therapy product to apply for new drug clinical trials in China, but it stands out as

the first to proceed patient enrollment in clinical trials,

the first to complete registration of clinical trials, and

the first to obtain marketing approval¹.

In 2023, real-world studies revealed that Yikaida^® has shown efficacy in Chinese patients comparable to global data, with a 12-month overall survival rate of 80.4% and improved safety.

Independent R&D is essential for developing quality products

Fosun's CAR-T cell therapy platform leverages its robust R&D capabilities, production pipeline, and the clinical data accumulated over two years since Yikaida^® was launched to explore the development of additional indications.

On 21 June 2023, the application for a new indication of Yikaida^® was officially approved², allowing patients to seize optimal treatment opportunities earlier and reduce suffering. Patients who are refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or have relapsed within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy can now receive CAR-T cell therapy sooner, increasing their chances of a cure.

A focus on “Cure”

Recently, Fosun Pharma announced that it will secure full ownership of its CAR-T cell therapy platform, which has completed its strategic reorganization and brand upgrade, officially changing its name to Fosun Kairos. Moving forward, Fosun Kairos will concentrate on cancer immunotherapy, fully committed to the pursuit of cures.

1On 23 June 2021, Yikaida^® (Ejilunsai injection) officially received approval for marketing registration from the NMPA to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) after second-line or above systemic treatment.

2On 26 June 2023, Fosun Kite announced thatYikaida^® (Ejilunsai injection) had obtained conditional approval for marketing from the NMPA to treat adult r/r LBCL patients who are refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or have relapsed within 12 months of first-line immunochemotherapy.

3Kite Pharma granted Fosun Kite exclusive rights to develop, produce, and commercialize Yikaida^® and Brexu-Cel (Fosun Kite research project FKC889) in the region (including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR), within the field of cancer treatment. On 13 September 2024, Fosun Pharma announced that its subsidiary, Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial, will fully acquire Fosun Kite Biotechnology Co., Ltd., which will be renamed Fosun Kairos.