On March 30, Medicilon held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony with Suzhou Hailu Biotech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group. The collaboration will focus on deepening synergy in preclinical new drug R&D, project introduction, and global market expansion, with the goal of jointly building an efficient, open, and international R&D ecosystem spanning from source innovation to IND filing. This partnership is poised to lead the high-quality development and global advancement of China’s biomedical industry.
Key executives from both organizations attended the ceremony and engaged in in-depth discussions on the cooperation’s vision and implementation roadmap. Representatives from Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group included Ruwei Wang, Special Assistant to the Chairman and Head of the Group’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute; Jian Liu, Assistant to the Dean and Head of the Macromolecule Innovation Center; and Wenjun Shan, Head of the Small Molecule Innovation Center. From Medicilon, attendees included Chunlin Chen, Chairman and CEO; Jinna Cai, Director and Chief Business Officer; Guokai Chen, Director and Vice President of Investment & Financing; Jian Ge, Executive Vice President of the Preclinical Division; and Binbin Liu, Vice President of Operations.
Complementary Strengths to Accelerate One-Stop New Drug R&D
As a core biologic R&D platform and wholly-owned subsidiary of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group, Hailu Biotech has established a comprehensive macromolecule innovative drug R&D system covering target discovery, molecular design, and preclinical development. Leveraging its antibody discovery and engineering platforms, Hailu Biotech focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as monoclonal/bispecific antibodies, ADCs, and small nucleic acids, with a focus on oncology, metabolism, autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. The company is committed to addressing unmet clinical needs and delivering improved treatment options for patients through its leading technological capabilities.
Medicilon, a leading one-stop preclinical R&D CRO, offers end-to-end services spanning drug discovery, pharmaceutical research, and preclinical studies. The company operates a research system compliant with standards set by China’s NMPA, the U.S. FDA, OECD GLP, and AAALAC accreditation. Medicilon has also built specialized R&D service platforms for novel molecular drugs, including antibodies, ADCs, mRNA vaccines, small nucleic acids, PROTACs, and CGT. With a track record of mature technological platforms and successful cases, Medicilon has supported the global launch of multiple innovative drugs.
16 Years of Collaboration: From Project Partnership to Strategic Symbiosis
This strategic cooperation builds on a long-standing partnership between the two parties, which dates back to 2010. Over the past 16 years, Medicilon has established long-term cooperative relationships with Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group and its subsidiaries, including Shanghai Haiyan Pharmaceutical Technology, Shanghai Hailu Biotechnology, Shanghai Haini Pharmaceutical, Nanjing Hailing Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou Hairui Pharmaceutical. Its services cover the entire preclinical R&D chain, encompassing small nucleic acids, small-molecule chemical drugs, and traditional Chinese medicines, empowering nearly 100 new drug R&D projects and supporting the approval and launch of key drugs such as Dezocine Injection, Omeprazole Enteric-coated Capsules, Levofloxacin Eye Drops, Ticagrelor Tablets, and Tacrolimus.
Shared R&D philosophies, aligned technical services, and consistent quality systems have fostered a mature and efficient collaboration mechanism between the two parties. This foundation of trust and business synergy has elevated their partnership from project-level cooperation to a strategic win-win alliance. Moving forward, the two parties will conduct customized R&D collaboration through flexible models such as commissioned R&D, FTE and FFS, covering one-stop preclinical services including early drug discovery, in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies, Chemistry, CMC, pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation, and regulatory registration. This integration will enable seamless process connection and efficient utilization of R&D resources.
"Bring In & Go Global": Building a Two-Way Ecosystem for Global Drug Outreach
In terms of business development, the two parties will jointly build a “bring in and go global” ecosystem to facilitate the integration of Chinese innovative drugs into the global market, featuring two-way empowerment and mutual promotion. To support global outreach, Medicilon will leverage its mature international platform and global network to connect Hailu Biotech with overseas partners, showcase innovative achievements through participation in top global industry conferences, and accelerate the overseas licensing and development of Hailu Biotech’s drug pipeline.
Meanwhile, Medicilon will use its international perspective and project resources to link Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group with high-quality overseas innovative drug pipelines and targets, facilitating their development and equity cooperation in the Chinese market. Beyond accelerating the internationalization of individual projects, this ecosystem aims to create a sustainable two-way flow of technologies, resources, and markets, enhancing the global visibility and competitiveness of Chinese innovative drugs.
Chunlin Chen
Chairman and CEO of Medicilon
Chairman and CEO of Medicilon
As the innovation engine of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group, Hailu Biotech has made forward-looking layouts in biologics, particularly in cutting-edge fields such as antibodies and small nucleic acids, demonstrating strong innovation potential. Medicilon will leverage its technological advantages and international project experience in novel molecular drug R&D—including antibodies, ADCs, PROTACs, and CGT—to provide Hailu Biotech with high-quality, efficient, one-stop R&D services, accelerating new drug development and global market entry.
Ruwei Wang
Special Assistant to the Chairman and Head of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Special Assistant to the Chairman and Head of Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Medicilon is a leading one-stop preclinical R&D service platform in China, boasting a complete technological system and comprehensive service capabilities. It has rich, verifiable successful experience in addressing the challenges of preclinical research on novel molecular drugs, making it a trustworthy strategic partner. We look forward to deepening collaboration in cutting-edge target exploration, innovative drug R&D, and global layout, delivering more breakthrough therapies and jointly injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development and technological upgrading of China’s biomedical industry.
