On November 25th, the Grand Awards Ceremony of the First China (Xiaoshan) Biomedical Industry High-Value Patent Cultivation Competition, colloquially known as the "China Biopharma Patent Competition," was held with great fanfare. During the previous semi-finals and finals, Westlake Pharmaceuticals' entry—a novel small molecule drug Mprosevir—shone brightly among the competitors, ultimately securing Third Prize.
This competition stands as the nation's first intellectual property contest dedicated to the biomedical industry. In total, the event attracted 209 entries from 23 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions across China, as well as international submissions, with only 16 making it to the final round.
Dr. Wu Qi, Deputy Director of Research and Development at Westlake Pharmaceuticals, Zhang Ruojian, Head of Intellectual Property, and Assistant to the General Manager, Cai Yiyan, represented the company in this competition. During the innovation roadshow segment, IP Lead Zhang Ruojian presented to the panel of judges and the audience the company's first product, Mprosevir, a novel, original anti-coronavirus drug, elaborating on its patent value and the underlying innovative R&D model and patent cultivation system.
Mprosevir boasts a completely new skeletal structure. From its initial discovery to clinical trials, the entire research and development process was completed by Westlake Pharmaceuticals. It holds substantial original value.
Currently, the core compound patent for Mprosevir has been granted in China. Moreover, in major markets and regions abroad where such drugs are prevalent, Westlake Pharmaceuticals has applied for core compound patents. The company possesses a scientifically sound patent cultivation system, featuring a rational and comprehensive patent portfolio.
The China Biopharma Patent Competition is the nation's first high-value patent cultivation contest specifically targeting the biomedical industry, organized jointly by the Xiaoshan District People's Government, the Hangzhou Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (Intellectual Property Bureau), the Zhejiang Intellectual Property Association, and the Intellectual Property Publishing House, with support from the Center for Intellectual Property Development Research of the National Intellectual Property Administration, the China Medical Devices Industry Association, the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the Professional Committee for Medicinal Intellectual Property Research of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Society, and the Medical Professional Committee of the China Patent Protection Association.
A scientifically sound patent cultivation system empowers innovative R&D, enabling enterprises and research institutions to more effectively transform high-quality research outcomes into industrial applications and market-oriented operations. Such a system constitutes a fundamental institutional safeguard for sustained, high-quality growth among science and technology innovation enterprises and research institutions.
The award received signifies the industry experts' strong endorsement of the patent value and patent cultivation system implemented by Westlake Pharmaceuticals. Bolstered by its robust patent cultivation framework, Westlake Pharmaceuticals will continue to focus on the development of novel original drugs, persistently pursuing challenging yet essential endeavors.