Hua Medicine is a new generation Chinese biopharmaceutical company focused on developing original therapeutic solutions for the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases. Founded in 2011 in Shanghai, the company has established itself as a leader in scientific innovation, combining cutting-edge global technology with a deep understanding of the needs of the Asian and global healthcare market.
Focus on diabetes and metabolic diseases
From the very beginning, Hua Medicine’s mission has been to address the unmet medical needs of patients with type 2 diabetes. Guided by the principles of ‘science in the service of health’, the company focused its efforts on developing drugs that can restore impaired metabolic processes.
The key direction was the study of the enzyme glucokinase — one of the main ‘glucose sensors’ in the human body. Glucokinase dysfunction underlies glycemic control disorders in type 2 diabetes. It is this mechanism that Hua Medicine has focused its research on.
Dorzagliatin: The path from molecule to approval
As a result of many years of scientific work , Dorzagliatin (HMS5552) was created — the first in its class oral double activator of glucokinase (GKA), capable of normalizing glycemic homeostasis by:
- stimulation of insulin production in pancreatic beta cells;
- reduction of glucose production in the liver.
This two-component mechanism allows Dorzagliatin to reduce glucose levels both on an empty stomach and after meals, and within physiologically regulated limits.
The drug was included in an extensive clinical program that included phases I, II, and III trials in China. In September 2022, the National Drug Administration of China (NMPA) officially approved Dorzagliatin, under the trade name Huatannin® , for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults — both as monotherapy and in combination with metformin.
Scientific infrastructure and international recognition
70% of Hua Medicine’s employees are specialists from the research and scientific departments. The company actively cooperates with more than 100 clinical centers in China and abroad. This scale has allowed us to conduct unique studies, including the study of Dorzagliatin in patients with impaired renal function, with long-term use, in combination with other drugs.
The company actively publishes the results of its research in international scientific journals and participates in leading medical conferences, confirming its commitment to the principles of transparency and scientific validity.
A drug adapted to the reality of patients
One of the features of Dorzagliatin is its suitability for a wide range of patients:
- it does not require dose adjustment in mild to moderate renal failure;
- has a low risk of hypoglycemia (less than 1%);
- does not lead to weight gain;
- it can be used in various combinations.
These qualities make it one of the most versatile drugs in the modern treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Innovation with global potential
Dorzagliatin’s success in China has already attracted international attention. In 2020, Hua Medicine entered into a strategic partnership with Bayer to commercialize the drug in China, which was a recognition of its potential by one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
The company is also developing an international strategy aimed at expanding the geographical presence of the drug and conducting additional research outside of China.
Hua Medicine is not just a Chinese pharmaceutical company. It is a biotechnological platform based on science, global thinking and patient responsibility. The history of Dorzagliatin development and introduction to the market is a vivid example of how local innovations can change the global landscape of chronic diseases treatment. And this is just the beginning.
Sources:
https://www.frontiersin.org
https://diabetesjournals.org
https://www.labiotech.eu
https://www.nature.com
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
