On the morning of June 24, the 2023 National Science and Technology Awards were presented in Beijing. The project “Novel Functions and Mechanisms of FGF Growth Factors in Regulating Glucose and Lipid Metabolism”, led by the team of Academician Li Xiaokun, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Wenzhou Medical University, won the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award. Previously, the team headed by Academician Li Xiaokun has received multiple National Science and Technology Awards for its research on growth factors.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), also known as heparin-binding growth factor, is a polypeptide protein present in various tissues of the organism. It regulates cellular behaviors and functions and is widely recognized for its role in accelerating wound healing. Nevertheless, through in-depth new research, Academician Li Xiaokun’s team discovered the correlation between FGF and the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. The team first uncovered the molecular mechanism by which FGF affects glucose and lipid metabolism and has continuously made new progress in clinical trials.

It is reported that the incidence of diabetes in China stands at 11.2%, the prevalence of various lipid metabolism disorders among adults reaches 43%, and the overweight rate is 34.3%. Such metabolic diseases not only pose a serious threat to people’s health, but also bring a heavy economic burden due to lifelong treatment. The basic theoretical research of this award-winning project and the subsequent development of new drugs will bring hope to these patients.

As a macromolecular CDMO platform initiated by Academician Li Xiaokun, Chuangrui Bio leverages his distinctive resources in innovative drug R&D for cell growth factors. Supported by the National Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drug Development and Manufacturing and the National Engineering Research Center for Cell Growth Factor Drugs and Protein Preparations (approved by the NDRC), the company will continue to integrate high-quality industrial resources and capitalize on its core competencies. Driven by innovation-oriented premium services, Chuangrui Bio will keep addressing bottleneck technical challenges for cell growth factors and special formulations of macromolecular protein eye drops and gels, and foster differentiated competitive advantages within the CDMO landscape.