Chinese Society of Gene and Cell Therapy holds its debut meeting

In a significant development for China's burgeoning cell and gene therapy sector, the Chinese Society of Gene and Cell Therapy was officially launched and held its official annual meeting in Beijing.

The society, co-founded by Mark Kay, a prominent figure in the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, aims to address the key challenges facing China's cell and gene therapy industry. It will focus on policy support, academic research, clinical trials, industrial implementation, international collaboration, talent cultivation, and public education.

The establishment of the society marks a significant step toward integrating China's cell and gene therapy products into the global market and will help create a platform for international collaboration and resource sharing, bolstering China's position in the global cell and gene therapy landscape, industrial observers said.

The annual meeting of Chinese Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, held from Friday to Saturday, co-hosted by the administrative commission of Zhongguancun Science City and the newly formed Chinese Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, is one of China's most influential international conferences in the field and attracted nearly 2,000 participants, including leading scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and investors from the cell and gene therapy field.

During the main forum, officials from Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park highlighted Beijing's leadership in the medical and health industry. Tang Jian, an official with the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, noted that Beijing has led the nation in the number of approved medical device products over the past three years, with the industry reaching a scale of 1.06 trillion yuan in 2024.

Beijing's Haidian district, home to prestigious institutions like Tsinghua and Peking universities, has become a hub for innovation in cell and gene therapy, with numerous high-tech enterprises driving advancements.

The annual meeting also saw the release of a blue book on the development and regulatory policies of China's cell and gene therapy industry, providing a comprehensive framework for industry-regulator dialogue.