Cobetter Co-Sponsors the First China Plasma Protein Industry Development Conference & Inauguration of CBPIA Plasma Protein Branch Successfully Concludes!

February 19 marked a significant milestone for CBPIA and the plasma protein industry with the official establishment of the CBPIA Plasma Protein Branch. In celebration, Ms. Xie Hongyan, Vice President of Cobetter, was honored with an appointment as a member of the inaugural Expert Committee of the Branch, recognizing her extensive experience and contributions to the field.

On February 20-21, the China Plasma Protein Industry Development Conference commenced with great fanfare.

In his opening address, Cobetter's CEO, Kevin, emphasized that "development" remains the eternal theme. He stated that Cobetter is committed to growing alongside the blood products industry by continuously deepening research into new technologies, processes, and products. Kevin expressed Cobetter's "open" attitude towards learning from industry peers and upholding the core philosophy that "collaboration makes a better future." Looking ahead, the company will pursue the path of "integration," joining hands with all parties to promote resource consolidation and sharing within the industry, and to build a grand blueprint for prosperous development.

The conference brought together experts from universities, hospitals, plasma product manufacturers, and the supply chain, who delivered insightful presentations on blood product technologies and industry overviews. Among them, Mr. Yang Meng, Cobetter's Director of Life Science Applications and Technology, shared a presentation titled "Application and Prospects of Filtration Technology in Blood Products."

Mr. Yang elaborated on the unique aspects of filtration processes in blood product manufacturing, stressing the critical importance of preserving the natural properties of plasma proteins, ensuring material compatibility, and minimizing contamination risks. He provided a detailed analysis of the application scenarios for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration technologies, explaining key control points at each stage based on rich practical experience.

Furthermore, Mr. Yang discussed the broad application prospects of advanced equipment like capsule filters and filter stacks, as well as single-use product solutions, in blood product production. He expressed high expectations for the future development of technologies like single-pass tangential flow ultrafiltration and membrane adsorption as alternatives to resin chromatography. He believes the continuous emergence of such innovative technologies and products will inject new vitality into the sustained progress of the blood products industry.

As a company with over 20 years of deep expertise in membrane filtration technology, Cobetter boasts a complete vertically integrated supply chain. Rooted in membrane science, the company has achieved rapid growth through advanced filtration technologies and significant advancements in its single-use product ecosystem. Cobetter remains dedicated to providing optimal products and services for clients in the blood products and life science sectors, meeting the evolving needs of the industry and market.

The conference featured multiple expert reports. Cobetter successfully commercialized its own viral removal filter in 2021, demonstrating its independent R&D capabilities and breaking the market dominance of imported products. As a pioneer in the blood products field, Taibang Biologic shared challenges and solutions regarding nanofiltration membrane technology in production, highlighting its profound expertise and innovative strength.

Mr. Jing from Taibang Biologic first introduced virus inactivation/removal technologies and outlined relevant regulatory requirements. He then detailed the advantages, disadvantages, and influencing factors of nanofiltration membrane technology, sharing a comprehensive overview of the progress in domestic Chinese nanofiltration membrane research. Using comparative test data from Shandong Taibang's Tetanus Human Immunoglobulin, he convincingly demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of domestic nanofiltration membrane alternatives.

In this context, the viral removal filters provided by Cobetter not only precisely meet the project's practical needs but also offer diversified choices for the supply chain. This helps enhance production efficiency and effectively addresses the urgent need for cost reduction and efficiency improvement, injecting new energy into the industry's sustainable development.

A roundtable discussion, chaired by Mr. Liu Jiaxin, former Director of the Institute of Blood Transfusion at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, sparked lively exchanges. Participants discussed the critical importance of plasma proteins and blood products in clinical applications, delving into the industry's unique characteristics of high barriers, high costs, and high investment, as well as its developmental history and future prospects.

Professor Hu Yu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology emphasized the vital role of plasma proteins in saving lives but noted limitations in supply and clinical application, underscoring the urgency of plasma substitute research. He also stressed the need for product purity, disease prevention, improved product variety, and reasonable pricing.

Mr. Feng Zenghui, Chairman of Grand Life Science Group, pointed out the high barriers in the blood products industry involving both technical and raw material challenges, alongside the need for high investment and cost control. While Chinese blood product companies represent top-tier levels in the domestic pharmaceutical industry, reliance on supplies from the UK and Japan for consumables like filter plates and nanofiltration membranes remains. He highlighted the urgent need for domestic alternatives, a process the association is actively advocating to accelerate, balancing quality assurance with cost reduction and supply chain security.

Cobetter VP Ms. Xie Hongyan noted that R&D and production of blood products is a long-term endeavor requiring extended match and adaptation between consumables and processes. Given the industry's high safety standards, supplier selection is cautious. She pointed out that domestic suppliers are rapidly rising, with some products surpassing imported ones. Cobetter's strength lies in its ability to quickly respond to and improve based on client needs, offering customized and localized services. She emphasized that truly improving blood product quality requires close collaboration among suppliers, manufacturers, regulators, and clinical applications.

Mr. Zeng Chenglin, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Bohui Innovation Biotechnology, stated that blood product safety encompasses both viral safety and product integrity. While changes can be challenging, domestic substitution is necessary and feasible. Bohui's cost analysis showed Cobetter's filter plates could increase single-batch loading capacity by 4-5 times. He stressed the industry is a full ecosystem of partners where everyone must play their part for healthy development.

Subsequently, Ma Shan, Vice General Manager of Shandong Taibang Biological Products Co., Ltd., emphasized that the blood products industry needs to enhance proactive efforts in the research, development, and application of new technologies and products to address the challenges posed by emerging therapies such as gene therapy and cell therapy.

Xue Baizhong, Chairman of Shenyang Tianshengyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., highlighted that achieving comprehensive utilization of blood products requires addressing regulatory issues. This sub-forum aims to provide reference for the government by synthesizing diverse perspectives and jointly resolving industry pain points.

Finally, Yan Chen, General Manager of Guangdong Shuanglin Biological Pharmacy Co., Ltd., noted that plasma resources are precious and limited, and current technological advancements have significantly improved their quality. Looking ahead, we anticipate that with continuous technological innovation, the utilization of plasma resources will become more efficient, contributing further to human health and driving collective progress across the industry.

The conference concluded on a high note, symbolizing the dawn of a new chapter.

We look to the future of the plasma protein and blood products industry with the confidence that "perseverance will prevail," envisioning a promising and radiant path ahead. On this journey of strategic partnership, we stand united, like brilliant stars illuminating the vast skies of the blood products industry, allowing hope and prosperity to endure in a continuous, harmonious symphony.