On September 26^th, 2019, Health Times, hosted by the People's Daily, released the groundbreaking healthcare achievements over the past 70 years in the People’s Republic of China. The innovative anti-cancer drug Conmana (icotinib hydrochloride), independently developed by Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. and launched in 2011, was the only major event of the year to be selected into the memorabilia.

Currently, Health Times is a healthcare media with one of the widest coverage, the highest credibility and the largest influence within China. The Party Central Committee and the State Council highly valued the improvement of people's livelihood and the development of the pharmaceutical industry. From 1949 to 2018, the number of medical institutions has reached 1 million in China. Over the past 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China's medical and health services have achieved tremendous progress and world-renowned reputation. Looking back on the glorious history of the past 70 years, the Health Times has shown the fruitful achievements of China's healthcare industry from three perspectives: major policies, public health, and medical & pharmaceuticals.

Health Times pointed out that during the past 70 years (1949 to 2019) China has undergone a groundbreaking development of its pharmaceutical industry. From the first penicillin to the discovery of artemisinin, from hand replantation to lung transplantation, from major hospitals to online treatment sites, China has achieved innovative and leading status in the global healthcare industry. China's medical and pharmaceutical achievements have made several major breakthroughs over the last 70 years.

Health Times listed small molecule targeted anti-cancer drug, Conmana, as the only major healthcare event in 2011. Conmana is a domestically developed innovative drug with independent intellectual property rights to treat lung cancer. The report emphasized: "In 2011, Conmana (icotinib hydrochloride), the small molecule targeted anti-cancer drug with China’s fully-owned independent intellectual property rights, was confirmed for its efficacy and was successfully launched in China. Icotinib is a first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted anti-cancer drug, treating EGFR+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. It was the first innovative oncology targeted therapy independently developed by a Chinese company and took Betta 8 years to bring this drug to the market.

Conmana is the first small molecule targeted anti-cancer drug in China, which was independently developed by Dr. Liming Ding and his R&D team for more than 8 years. It is a new type of EGFR kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), of which the efficacy and safety are better than imported drugs. Conmana was launched in June 2011, breaking the monopoly of imported drugs in China, being recognized as a major breakthrough in the Chinese public healthcare industry. In order to make it more affordable to the public, Betta decided to set the market price at 60 to 70% of comparable imported drugs, drastically reducing prices by medical insurance negotiations, and jointly offered free medicines with the Chinese Medicine Promotion Association. Since its market launch, more than 20 million lung cancer patients have been treated with the drug and more than 4 million medicines have been provided through Betta’s patient assistance program. The sales revenue and market value have reached over 6 billion yuan and 8 billion yuan respectively. Conmana has won the Gold Prize of China Patent Award twice as well as the China Industrial Award. It has also been awarded for the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology, as the first such award granted to China's chemical pharmaceutical industry and to a Zhejiang enterprise.

Jiang Wan, Senior VP of Betta Pharmaceuticals, commented:″ Conmana has just been listed in National Medical Insurance Reimbursement Drugs (2019 version) and the People’s Republic of China’s 70-year Healthcare Memorabilia. These milestones not only indicated that Conmana has a leading status of innovative medicines in Chinese healthcare industry with improved accessibility, but also further demonstrated its innovative value and great influence″.

Dr. Lieming Ding, Chairman, and CEO of Betta Pharmaceuticals, commented:″ Betta's growth greatly benefits from the support of the party committees and the Chinese government, and the trust from the patient community. We are deeply grateful for the rapid development of China, supporting start-up companies to fulfill their values and dreams. Conmana is a landmark achievement of National “New Drug Innovation” project. We are inspired by China's policy to support the development of science and technology, and the country’s recognition of the entrepreneurship and innovation of high-level overseas returnees. Betta has more than 30 innovative drugs under development, 11 of which have entered the clinical research stage. Among them, ensartinib hydrochloride, a new-generation ALK inhibitor treating lung cancer, is expected to be launched this year. Since it was founded, Betta Pharmaceuticals has been committed to the new drug development to achieve scientific innovation for the people, create more affordable medicines, and support people to live a better life″.

About Betta

Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Stock code: 300558.SZ) is a national level high-tech enterprise, established by the experienced talent team of overseas returnees, with research and development (R&D) of innovative drugs as its core focus, integrating R&D, manufacturing and marketing. The company independently developed China's first small-molecule targeted anticancer drug, icotinib hydrochloride (trade name: Conmana). It was recognized as a major breakthrough in the Chinese public healthcare industry and has won China Patent Gold Award twice as well as the first National Scientific and Technological Progress Award in China's chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Until the third quarter in 2019, icotinib has benefited 230,000 patients of advanced lung cancer, with the cumulative sales reaching nearly 7 billion RMB. The company has established a comprehensive new drug R&D platform, with its R&D centers in Hangzhou and Beijing, and more than 30 innovative drugs under development, covering multiple tumor indications such as lung cancer, renal cancer, and breast cancer. The company has also reached strategic collaboration with leading domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies such as Amgen, Xcovery, Tyrogenex, Merus, Mabworks, and InventisBio, to work together to promote the health and well-beings of the general public.