On March 12, commissioned by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association under the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), a delegation visited Shenzhen Cell Valley to conduct research for the compilation of the Key Technology Roadmap for Cell and Gene Therapy Drugs. The delegation included Professor Jiang Jianli, Deputy Director of the National Center for Molecular Medicine Translational Research at Air Force Medical University; Professor Chen Junhui, Founding Director of the Interventional and Cell Therapy Center at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital and President of the Cell Medicine Branch of the China Food and Drug Promotion Association; Xu Yanwei, Director of the Office of the Cell Medicine Branch; and Li Dezhi, Senior Research Assistant at the Center. They were warmly received by Shi Yuanyuan, Chairman and General Manager of Shenzhen Cell Valley; Wang Jianxun, Chief Scientist; Tang Xiaomeng, Deputy General Manager; Wei Zheng, Minister of the Administration Department; and Fu Yuchen, Assistant to the Chairman, who also participated in a project research meeting.

Currently, the global biopharmaceutical industry is at a critical juncture of rapid development and transformation. As a frontier field with immense potential, cell and gene therapy drugs are of great significance for promoting the transformation and upgrading of China's pharmaceutical industry and enhancing its global competitiveness. To actively respond to national strategic needs and improve the capacity of national societies to serve these strategies, CAST established the "National Society Serving National Strategy Special Project." Against this backdrop, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association successfully obtained the task of compiling the "Biopharmaceutical Key Technology Roadmap" in December 2024. The compilation of the roadmap for the cell and gene therapy drug sector is led by Academician Cheng Zhinan and Academician Wang Junzhi, with Professor Jiang Jianli and Professor Xu Miao responsible for specific implementation. This roadmap aims to provide clear guidance for the future development of the field, and the research findings will be submitted to the central authorities and relevant ministries via CAST to serve as a basis for decision-making and policy formulation.

At the symposium, Professor Jiang Jianli first elaborated on the background, objectives, and significance of the "Biopharmaceutical Key Technology Roadmap" compilation project. He pointed out that this work is a crucial initiative to respond to national calls and serve national strategies. It aims to provide a scientific basis for national policy formulation, industrial layout, and research directions by systematically reviewing the current domestic and international development status of key technologies in the biopharmaceutical field.

Subsequently, Professor Shi Yuanyuan introduced the development history, core team, scientific achievements, and technological advantages of Shenzhen Cell Valley in the field of cell therapy drugs, focusing on the research progress and innovative practices in retroviral vector technology. Shenzhen Cell Valley possesses domestically leading industrial production technology for retroviral vectors and has built an international GMP-compliant production line for viral vectors and cell products spanning over 10,000 square meters. The single-batch RVV production capacity has exceeded 1,000 doses, with a CAR-T cell transduction efficiency of over 70% and stable expression. Shenzhen Cell Valley has always focused on the R&D and innovation of cell therapy drugs, gathering a group of excellent domestic and international research talents to build a comprehensive R&D platform and technical system. The company has achieved remarkable results in retroviral vector construction, optimization, and clinical application, making positive contributions to the development of China's cell therapy drug industry.

During the discussion session, both parties engaged in a heated and in-depth exchange on hot topics in the field of cell and gene therapy drugs. Regarding technical bottlenecks, they jointly analyzed key challenges in the R&D process, such as efficient viral vector delivery, precision of gene editing, and quality control of cell therapy products, offering their respective views and suggestions on how to overcome them. Regarding clinical application, experts agreed that while the scale is leading, policies urgently need to break the ice. China has surpassed the United States in the scale of clinical application of cell therapy, with over 50 hospitals nationwide conducting clinical trials for CAR-T and other therapies. However, the lack of a charging mechanism has become a core pain point restricting clinical promotion. Experts present appealed to draw on pilot experiences in Hainan and Henan to promote Shenzhen's establishment of a "New Medical Technology" charging directory, thereby opening up the "Technology-Industry-Payment" closed loop.

The research team also visited the R&D laboratories and production workshops of Shenzhen Cell Valley to gain a firsthand understanding of the company's operating model, quality control system, and the construction of its technological innovation platform. This visit provided a more intuitive understanding of the company's R&D strength and production capabilities in the field of cell and gene therapy drugs.

The successful conclusion of this research activity not only deepened the exchange and cooperation between the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Shenzhen Cell Valley but also injected new momentum into the compilation of the key technology roadmap for cell and gene therapy drugs. By integrating wisdom and resources from all parties, it is expected to provide strong support for the innovative development of China's biopharmaceutical industry, push China to new heights in the field of cell and gene therapy drugs, and assist in achieving the goal of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.