As one of the first hospitals to enter the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Zone in Hainan, the Boao International Hospital of Jimin Health, relying on the policy advantage of "early and pilot implementation" of the zone, has focused its R&D efforts on two major R&D pipelines of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and dendritic cells in the field of cellular therapeutic drugs. Tian Yunfei, director and president of Jimin Health, recently said in an interview with China Securities Journal, "Based on the long-term optimism for the development prospect of cell therapy drugs, Jimin Health will focus on the research and development of Boao International Hospital's cell therapy drug pipeline in the future."

Joining hands with stem cell experts

JiminHealth's 2024 semi-annual report disclosed the appointment of Jonathan Robert Lakey as the chief scientist of the International Regenerative Medicine Research Center of Boao International Hospital, a controlling subsidiary, and that the research areas of collaboration with Jonathan Robert Lakey mainly include: basic research and clinical translation of islet cell-like organs based on induced totipotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation The main research areas with Jonathan Robert Lakey include: basic research and clinical translation of iPSC-based differentiation of pancreatic islet cell-like organoids, islet cell transplantation-based clinical treatment strategies for type 1 & 2 diabetes mellitus, study of the efficacy and mechanism of clinical-grade MSC (adipose-derived ADSC and umbilical-cord-derived UC-MSC) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications, development of drugs based on modified MSC-derived exosomes for the treatment of type 1 & 2 diabetes mellitus, and development of markers of response to cellular therapies for diabetes mellitus and related development of monitoring kits and other directions.

This is the famous stem cell expert Jonathan Robert Lakey and Boao International Hospital "marriage" again. Back in 2019, Boao International Hospital had hired Jonathan Robert Lakey as the chief scientist of the International Regenerative Medicine Research Center.

Jonathan Robert Lakey told reporters that he would provide Boao International Hospital with technical support in the basic research, transformation and clinical application of cell therapy. "We hope that through this in-depth cooperation, we can make progress in the mechanism research and markers of diabetes, and conduct research on comprehensive diabetes treatment strategies in combination with the AI macromodel; and make joint efforts to promote the technological development of iPSC in diabetes treatment to further improve the effect of stem cell therapy while reducing the risk of complications."

Lou Guoliang, vice president of Boao International Hospital, told reporters that Boao International Hospital's current main focus is stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes. Next, the hospital will study the results of Jonathan Robert Lakey's team in islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes and optimize the treatment plan for type 2 diabetes.

Introducing cutting-edge medical technology

Boao International Hospital is located in Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Advance Zone in Hainan. The hospital consists of the International Regenerative Medicine Research Center, High-end Medical Cosmetic Center, Tumor Precision Prevention and Treatment Center, Anti-aging Medicine Center, Ophthalmology Disease Precision Treatment Center, and Bone and Joint Disease Prevention Center, among other departments.

Boao International Hospital has the only international regenerative medicine laboratory in China certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, and has built four core technology platforms, namely, cell storage, international standard cell preparation, clinical research on cell therapy, and the transformation of stem cell and regenerative medicine technology, and the autologous adipose-derived stem cells prepared in the hospital have obtained the quality certification of the CIQ.

"We hope to utilize the policy advantages of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pioneer Zone to introduce advanced large-scale medical equipments and cutting-edge medical technologies, and become a global medical technology pioneer. With regenerative medicine as its core, Boao International Hospital mainly focuses on the development of new biomedical technologies such as stem cell technology and immune cell technology." Lou Guoliang told reporters.

Ling Xia, Vice President of Science and Technology and Director of Regenerative Medicine Research Center of Boao International Hospital, said in an interview with the reporter that Boao International Hospital's cell technology R&D pipeline is currently focused on two major directions, namely, adipose mesenchymal stem cells and dendritic cells (DC cells). Research on adipose mesenchymal stem cells includes three indications: retinitis pigmentosa, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while research on DC cells includes three indications: prostate cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer.

In terms of stem cell therapy for diabetes, Lou Guoliang introduced that there are no stem cell therapy diabetes drugs on the market in China yet, and they are all in the stage of preclinical development and clinical trials. The adipose mesenchymal stem cell therapy for diabetes being researched by Boao International Hospital has entered the stage of preclinical animal experiments, and it is planned to prepare for iiT clinical trials after obtaining the results of the safety tests, and meanwhile, make use of the pilot policy of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pioneer Zone to collect and analyze the data of the real-world clinical research, so as to provide data support on safety and effectiveness for the optimization of the treatment plan.

DC Cell Technology Pipeline, a therapeutic vaccine mainly targeting malignant tumors, has entered the preclinical stage in two indications, namely prostate cancer and liver cancer.

In addition, as disclosed in the half-yearly report of the Company, in order to further satisfy the needs of customers, Boao International Hospital has launched the "Qiaoshi Muscle" skin care brand, which includes facial masks, serums, creams, eye creams, cleansing foams, etc. The filing of the above products has been completed. The above products have completed the filing.

Relying on policy advantages

In February 2013, Boao LeCheng International Medical Tourism Zone in Hainan was approved by the State Council to establish. The reporter learned from the research that at present, there are more than 20 hospitals in the advanced zone. As the first batch of hospitals entering Boao Licheng International Medical Tourism Advanced Zone in Hainan, Boao International Hospital fully enjoys the preferential policies of "early and pilot implementation".

The Implementation Plan on Supporting the Construction of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pioneer Zone clearly states that it will carry out research on the application of real-world clinical data.In June 2019, the State Administration of Drug Administration and the Hainan Provincial Government jointly launched a pilot project on the application of real-world clinical data in the Lecheng Pioneer Zone, exploring the application of real-world data in the registration of pharmaceutical and equipment products and in the regulatory decision-making, and exploring new tools for the reform of the national review and approval system for pharmaceutical and equipment, new standards and methods for the reform of the national drug and device review and approval system.

Lou Guoliang introduced that before clinical research, drugs have to go through safety, effectiveness and other aspects of the assessment, the investment is large, and the time is long. The pilot clinical real-world data application in the LeCheng pilot zone means that the real-world clinical research data carried out by Boao International Hospital can support drug registration and listing, shortening the time for drug development from lab to ward and from research to clinic. Meanwhile, after the drugs are approved and listed on the market, the real-world data can support the work of innovative medicines and devices health insurance access and dynamic adjustment of the national health insurance catalog.

Another advantage is the licensed drug and device policy. "For example, the introduction of foreign marketed targeted drugs for the treatment of lung cancer must first complete phase I/II clinical studies in China, so that at least two years before the introduction can be completed. But in the advanced zone, as long as there are three clinicians with associate senior title or above applying at the same time, they can be directly introduced as new drugs." Lou Guoliang told reporters that the introduction of licensed medicines and devices in the advanced zone has increased from 14 by August 2019 to 410 by June 2024. Relying on the licensed drugs and devices policy of the advanced zone, the hospital introduces drugs and medical devices approved overseas in Japan, the United States, and Germany, solving the problem of tight demand for advanced devices on the mainland and providing patients with more convenient access to medical treatment.

Utilizing the special policies of the advanced zone, it is in line with the world's cutting-edge medical technology. Lou Guoliang told reporters that Boao International Hospital is a strategic partner of Japan's medical corporation society Medical Promotion Association Kohda Hospital, which has handed over the complete cell therapy technology it owns to Boao International Hospital for use, and has jointly carried out the research and clinical application of NKM improved therapy, NKMplus improved therapy, NKT immune cell therapy, and stem cell therapy with the hospital.

"As a holding subsidiary of Jimin Health, Boao International Hospital is committed to building the hospital into a modern medical research and treatment base with leading technology in China and very distinctive features internationally by cooperating with a team of top international experts and introducing international cutting-edge medical science and technology achievements." Lou Guoliang told reporters.

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