Chongchuan district in Nantong, Jiangsu province, has prioritized the development of the life and healthcare industry as a key strategic emerging sector, giving rise to a host of prominent companies and industry leaders.

One such standout is the Biopharmaceutical Industry Research Institute of the Shibei High-tech Zone.

The institute has integrated multiple top-notch domestic bio-pharmaceutical innovation teams from prestigious institutions like Shanghai University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tsinghua University. Led by academicians and experts, it primarily focuses on research and development as well as the transformation of various biomedical materials, innovative drugs, cosmetic ingredients, and more. It aims to establish itself as a research platform and industry innovation hub that combines industrialization, intensification, and internationalization.

Guo Feng, executive dean of the institute said that within its first year of establishment, the institute applied for 11 patents, with one already granted, and plans to apply for over 10 more patents this year.

In just one year, the institute has incubated four bio-pharmaceutical companies, and Curtius Biotech, founded at the end of October 2022, is one of them.

Curtius Biotech is engaging in the research, production, and sale of peptide products and small molecule drugs. They are actively driving research and applications of peptides in the field of biomedicine.

Currently, this newly established enterprise is on the verge of launching its peptide-based cosmetics into the market. Orders have already exceeded 10 million yuan, with an anticipated order volume of 20 million yuan ($2.73 million) by year-end.

In addition, the institute has established a platform to attract scientists and medical professionals to Nantong, fostering more collaboration between academia and industry. It aims to become a technological hub for the economic development of the Chongchuan pharmaceutical industry, bridging the gap between basic medical research and clinical applications.

At present, the institute is making efforts to establish a top-tier national bio-pharmaceutical innovation research and development platform, aiming to make the Shibei High-tech Zone more competitive in industry clustering.

A laboratory at the Biopharmaceutical Industry Research Institute of the Shibei High-tech Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]