Changchun GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Firsekibart for Injection, a Class I innovative drug developed by Changchun GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co (GenSci), is the only approved targeted biologic therapy for gout in China.

China has a large population of gout patients, yet traditional treatments face limitations. According to Jin Lei, GenSci's founder, this unmet demand drove the company to pursue a more fundamental solution.

Through clinical research, the team identified gout not simply as joint pain caused by elevated uric acid, but as a chronic inflammatory disease driven by interleukin-1β. By targeting this key inflammatory trigger, Firsekibart aims to block the inflammatory cascade at its source, delivering precise, efficient, and long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects.

This novel scientific hypothesis initially met skepticism from peers at home and abroad. Undeterred, GenSci's research team conducted extensive literature reviews, engaged in repeated consultations with clinical experts, and built robust experimental models. Animal studies later delivered results that exceeded expectations.

A Changchun GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co researcher. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Supported by strong efficacy data from Phase III clinical trials, Firsekibart has been recommended in the 2025 Gout Anti-Inflammatory Treatment Guidelines.

In 2025, the company's R&D investment accounted for nearly 30 percent of its revenue, a level considered high even among global pharmaceutical firms, underscoring its long-term commitment to innovative drug development.