Beijing, China, May 26, 2025 – The Multinational Diabetes Academic Conference 2025, hosted by the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) with   support from Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, was inaugurated in Beijing. Under the guidance of the "Healthy China 2030" strategy, the conference convened under the theme "Global Diabetes Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment: Advancing New Frontiers," bringing together internationally renowned experts to formulate a new strategic framework for diabetes management.

The conference underscored the critical importance of multinational collaboration and technological innovation by creating an elite international platform to promote the integration and optimal utilization of global medical resources. The scientific program focused on four pivotal thematic areas: "Diabetes Epidemiology" "GLP-1 RA " "The Progress of Diabetes Prevention and Treatment" and "Innovative Patient Management" collectively providing an in-depth examination of cutting-edge developments in the field.

Opening Ceremony Highlights Collaboration and Innovation

Ms. Lu Xiaoti, Deputy Secretary-General of PhIRDA, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered the welcome address. She emphasized that diabetes represents a critical global public health challenge requiring urgent multinational collaboration and innovative solutions.

"China has achieved remarkable progress in diabetes prevention, research and development, and clinical studies in recent years," Ms. Lu noted. "These advancements are now being rapidly implemented across international markets."

She further emphasized PhIRDA's ongoing dedication to fostering worldwide collaboration, stating, "PhIRDA continues to develop global knowledge-sharing platforms to drive collaborative innovation in diabetes care. This conference serves as a vital forum to synthesize pioneering research with patient-focused treatment approaches, ultimately enhancing diabetes management worldwide."

Representing the organizing committee, Professor Ji Linong, Chairman of Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Drugs Specialty Committee of PhIRDA and Professor at Peking University People's Hospital, extended a warm welcome to the international experts. He underscored the conference's alignment with the "Health Silk Road" initiative. "This gathering serves as a practical step towards building transnational academic cooperation platforms," Prof. Ji remarked, "helping more nations tackle the challenges in diabetes diagnosis and treatment."

Prof. Ji further emphasized the goal of the conference: "We aim to facilitate the exchange of cutting-edge research, clinical expertise, and practical solutions in diabetes management among nations. This will foster the development of region-specific treatment approaches, making effective and affordable healthcare solutions accessible to more patients worldwide."

Mr. Kai Du, CEO of Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, representing supporting partner, addressed the pressing need for global cooperation. "The global diabetes epidemic remains severe," Mr. Du stated, "demanding strengthened international collaboration to confront this public health challenge."

"Driven by a deep commitment to diabetes care, Gan & Lee consistently upholds the philosophy of 'a global community of health for all '," Mr. Du continued. "We are intensifying R&D investments to build a robust pipeline of innovative products, including bi-weekly GLP-1 RA formulations and once-weekly insulin preparations. Concurrently, we are actively promoting international technology transfer and partnerships. Through deep collaboration with global partners in areas like diabetes management, we strive to continuously improve drug accessibility worldwide."

• Session 1: Diabetes Epidemiology

Professor Zhang Junqing: A Glimpse of IDF2025: Global Diabetes Trends and Clinical Practice Recommendations

Professor Zhang Junqing from Peking University First Hospital presented insights from the newly released IDF Diabetes Atlas and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Management Guidelines. IDF data reveals that approximately 589 million adults worldwide had diabetes in 2024, a figure projected to surge to 853 million by 2050. This places immense pressure on healthcare systems globally, compounded by severe disparities in medical resources. Consequently, the updated IDF Guidelines introduce a dual-track approach for T2D management – "Best Management" and "Basic Management" – proposing differentiated strategies based on local resource availability. The guidelines specifically highlight that utilizing insulin biosimilars can effectively reduce costs and enhance treatment accessibility. 

Professor TEBAIBIA Amar: Economic Burden on Diabetes: Real World Data and Empirical Analysis

Prof. TEBAIBIA Amar from Algeria introduced the economic burden of diabetes: It is the first real world data and empirical analysis to devote to the economic burden of diabetes. This retrospective study highlights the significant financial burden posed by the management of diabetes at the hospital level in Algeria. It mentions that the substantial costs, particularly in hospitalization and consultations, emphasize the need for targeted strategies to address these disparities. The findings underline the importance of optimizing resource allocation and can inform healthcare policymakers in designing strategies aimed at reducing the economic burden while ensuring quality care.

Panel Discussion of Session 1

The panel discussion session, moderated by Professor Liu Ming of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, focused on strategies to improve diabetes diagnosis and treatment rates globally.

Professor TEBAIBIA Amar (Algeria) identified the root causes of rising diabetes prevalence as heightened stress levels in modern life, cultural dietary habits high in sugar, and insufficient physical activity. He emphasized that tackling this complex challenge requires not only individual commitment to healthier lifestyles but also systematic support from national and societal levels.

dr. Vina Yanti Susanti (Indonesia) strongly advocated for the critical role of public health education. She stressed that raising public awareness about diabetes prevention is paramount everywhere, encouraging individuals to recognize symptoms and seek early screening.

Professor Gao Leili (Peking University People's Hospital, China) added context based on relevant studies: In China, many patients are diagnosed with diabetes during routine physical examinations at primary care hospitals. Conversely, in tertiary hospitals, a significant number of cases are identified incidentally during visits for other conditions. The discussion collectively highlighted that a multi-tiered screening system, combined with targeted health education, is essential for improving the efficiency of diabetes prevention and control.

• Session 2: GLP-1 RA

Professor JI Linong: Pioneering the First Bi-Weekly GLP-1 Receptor Agonist From Discovery to Clinical Milestones

Professor JI Linong from Peking University People's Hospital delivered a presentation titled "The First Biweekly GLP-1 Receptor Agonist: From R&D Exploration to Clinical Milestones". Prof. Ji highlighted that the development of longer-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) represents a crucial advancement in managing diabetes and obesity, driven by evolving therapeutic demands.

Prof. Ji focused on Bofanglutide (GZR18), an innovative GLP-1 RA independently developed in China. Utilizing mature fatty acid acylation technology, Bofanglutide achieves a biweekly dosing regimen – marking it as the world's first GLP-1 RA with this extended dosing interval. Data from multiple global clinical studies demonstrate the drug's significant superiority in both glycemic control and weight reduction. In a head-to-head trial against Semaglutide (Ozempic^®), Bofanglutide dosed biweekly achieved a 2.28% reduction in HbA1c from baseline at week 24, significantly outperforming Ozempic^®. Studies also revealed that participants receiving biweekly Bofanglutide achieved a 17.3% weight loss from baseline at week 30.

Bofanglutide is currently undergoing several Phase 3 clinical trials in China, targeting indications for both diabetes and overweight/obesity management, aiming to further validate its safety and efficacy in larger populations. 

Professor Jiang Hongwei Highlights Patient-Centric Advantages

Professor Jiang Hongwei from The First Affiliated Hospital/Clinical Medical School, Henan University of Science and Technology provided insightful commentary on Prof. Ji's presentation. He noted that as the world's first biweekly GLP-1 RA specifically targeting obesity/overweight, GZR18 fills a gap in long-acting formulations for this indication. "The biweekly dosing frequency significantly reduces injection burden, enhancing patient adherence," Prof. Jiang emphasized, "making it particularly suitable for long-term chronic disease management."

Professor Farhad Hossein Panah: GLP-1 RA positioning in CKM

Then Prof. Fahad Hossein Panah introduced GLP-1 RA Positioning in CKM. It mentions that GLP-1 RAs represent a promising therapeutic approach in managing different stages of CKM syndrome, offering comprehensive metabolic, cardiovascular, and kidney protection. It introduces the different stages of CKM and how GLP-1 RA is positioned for the management of CKM.

Panel Discussion of Session 2

This session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Professor Yu Miao from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Prof. Ji Linong, Prof. Farhad Hossein Panah, Prof. Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi, Prof. Mojtaba Malek, and Dr. Roopa Mehta engaged in an in-depth discussion covering: Clinical experience with GLP-1 RAs, Their organ-protective effects (particularly cardiovascular and renal) and The future potential for cross-disease applications.

• Session 3: The Progress of Diabetes Prevention and Treatment

Professor Mu Yiming: Global Progress of Weekly Insulin

Professor Mu Yiming from the Chinese PLA General Hospital emphasized that the advent of once-weekly insulin formulations is poised to transform diabetes management. He noted that adherence challenges become increasingly prominent with traditional insulin regimens over the long disease course. Novel once-weekly injections, requiring only a single dose per week, offer a promising solution to this key clinical challenge.

Prof. Mu Yiming systematically reviewed the three primary technological approaches currently underpinning global once-weekly insulin development. He spotlighted the top three candidates in the global pipeline: Icodec (Novo Nordisk), Efsitora Alfa (Eli Lilly), and GZR4 (Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals). Significantly, GZR4, as the first domestic Chinese once-weekly insulin candidate to enter Phase III clinical trials, ranks third globally. Multiple clinical studies indicate that GZR4 provides consistent glycemic coverage throughout the week, enabling effective once-weekly dosing. Compared to insulin Degludec, GZR4 demonstrates superior glycemic efficacy and a favorable safety profile. 

Professor Mohamed Reda Halawa: Phenotypes of T2DM

Prof. Mohamed Reda Halawa shared the Phenotypes of T2DM, he mentioned that the existing classification of diabetes into predominantly type 1 and type 2 is increasingly recognized as insufficient to capture the heterogeneity of patient presentations, disease course, response to medications and risk of complications. He also mentioned that the emerging sub-classification schemas with more refined subgroups, involving phenotypic and genetic data, have already demonstrated reproducibility and in some instances evidence of clinical utility.

Dr. dr. Tri Juli Edi Tarigan Shares Indonesian Study on Insulin Glargine Biosimilar

Dr. dr. Tri Juli Edi Tarigan (Indonesia) presented a local Indonesian clinical study on the insulin glargine biosimilar EZELIN^®. The study confirmed that EZELIN^® exhibits bioequivalence to the reference product Lantus^® in terms of glycemic efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic profile for treating Type 2 Diabetes. Dr. dr.Tri Juli Edi Tarigan highlighted that this research not only provides Indonesian patients with an evidence-based, high-quality, and affordable alternative but, crucially, enhances treatment accessibility by lowering costs. This offers a practical solution to improve diabetes management in Indonesia, holding significant public health importance for alleviating the country's growing diabetes burden. 

Panel Discussion of Session 3

This session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Professor Ren Qian from Peking University People's Hospital. Prof. Mu Yiming (China), Prof. MIMOUNI Safia (Algeria), Prof. Mohamed Reda Halawa (Egypt), Dr. Sergio Hernández Jimenez (Mexico), and Dr. dr. Tri Juli Edi Tarigan (Indonesia) engaged in a focused discussion on the application of once-weekly insulins and insulin biosimilars. Professor Mu Yiming pointed out that while once-weekly insulins significantly reduce injection frequency and improve adherence, caution is warranted for specific populations. He noted that evidence remains insufficient for their use in Type 1 diabetes patients, gestational diabetes patients, and those with severe hyperglycemia requiring frequent dose adjustments, necessitating careful consideration in these groups.

• Session 4: Innovative Patient Management

Dr. Ana Cristina García Ulloa: Innovative Patient Management Program

Dr. Ana Cristina García Ulloa (Mexico) introduced the Innovative Patient Management Program: The CAIPaDi Model in Mexico. She mentioned that a multidisciplinary approach should be considered to provide effective, high-quality treatment and decrease the risk of long‐term complications. She introduced a comprehensive care program that allows for improving medical, mental health, and lifestyle outcomes and better metabolic treatment results.

Panel Discussion of Session 4

The session featured a panel discussion moderated by Professor Yu Miao from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Professor Luo Yingying (China), Dr. Ana Cristina García Ulloa (Mexico), Prof. BIOUD Belkacem (Algeria), and Dr. dr. Libriansyah (Indonesia) exchanged insights on key areas: Application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in blood glucose management. Diabetes prevention programs for high-risk populations across different countries, Innovative management approaches for older patients with comorbidities. Experts shared practical experiences in areas including: AI-powered glucose monitoring systems, Community-based screening and intervention programs, and Multidisciplinary collaborative care models, and the discussion also addressed critical issues such as the imperative for wider technology adoption. These exchanges provided valuable insights for global collaboration and innovation in diabetes management. 

This conference provided a dynamic platform for free exchange among global diabetes experts, convening world-renowned specialists and leading industry figures. Participants shared the latest R&D advances and explored innovative solutions in diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, significantly deepening academic exchange on the development and clinical application of novel diabetes therapeutics.

As a supporting partner, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals will continue to leverage its innovation leadership as a frontrunner enterprise and steadfastly uphold its social responsibility. The company is committed to actively fostering domestic and international collaborations and accelerating the translation of research outcomes. Gan & Lee aims to contribute to building a more forward-looking, accessible, and highly coordinated global diabetes prevention and treatment framework. These efforts represent a substantive contribution towards benefiting patients worldwide and advancing the strategic objectives of the World Health Organization's "Global Diabetes Compact".

About Gan & Lee

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals developed the first Chinese domestic insulin analog. Currently, Gan & Lee has six core insulin products, including five insulin analog varieties: long-acting glargine injection (Basalin^®), fast-acting lispro injection (Prandilin™), fast-acting aspart injection (Rapilin^®), mixed protamine zinc lispro injection (25R) (Prandilin™25), aspart 30 injection (Rapilin^®30), and one human insulin injection - mixed protamine human insulin injection (30R) (Similin^®30). The company has two approved medical devices in China, namely reusable insulin injection pen (GanleePen), and disposable pen needle (GanleeFine^®).

In China's 2024 National Insulin-Specific Centralized Procurement, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals ranked  first among all selected companies in terms of procurement demand for insulin analogs. The company is also making strides in international markets, with the disposable pen needle (GanleeFine^®) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020 and received GMP inspection approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2024. These achievements significantly boost Gan & Lee’s competitiveness in both international and domestic markets.

In the future, Gan & Lee will strive for comprehensive coverage in diabetes treatment. Moving forward with its mission to become a world-class pharmaceutical company, Gan & Lee will also actively develop new chemical entities and biological drugs, focusing on treatments for metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and other therapeutic areas.