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A Dedicated Female Expert in the Research and Development of “Chinese Medicines”—A Profile of Wei Saili, a Drug R&D Professional at Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group

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Group News

发布时间：2024-01-29

【概要描述】

[Profile] Wei Saili, female, 39, a member of the Communist Party of China, serves as the research leader at the R&D Center of Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group and Director of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Institute. She has been recognized as a “Young Top-Tier Talent” of Hebei Province and selected as a technical expert in the Hebei Provincial Science and Technology Expert Database. She also holds the position of the inaugural rotating chair of the Yan Zhao Women Craftsmen Biopharmaceutical Innovation Alliance and was awarded the Hebei Provincial May Day Labor Medal. She has participated in more than ten provincial and municipal clinical trials and research projects on pharmaceuticals, earning one Hebei Provincial Science and Technology Achievement Award and one Shijiazhuang Municipal Science and Technology Award, and obtaining 10 national patents.

With 11 years of experience, I have submitted applications for 82 projects, delivering tangible research outcomes.

Guided by the forefront of international academia and the nation’s major strategic needs, Wei Saili has led her team over the past 11 years in relentless pursuit of breakthroughs, overcoming numerous technical bottlenecks and delivering a series of groundbreaking scientific and technological achievements that have been etched into the company’s history—thus embodying the sense of responsibility and commitment inherent in the role of a research professional.

In recent years, she has led her team in submitting a total of 82 API project applications, of which 46 have been approved. Notably, bupropion was the first domestically approved API of its kind, and these approved production projects have generated over RMB 350 million in annual revenue for the company. The overall yield of moxifloxacin hydrochloride API ranks first in the industry, while the production costs of APIs such as stigmasterol are significantly lower than the national average. In 2023, the number and efficiency of new API drug approvals submitted by Wei Saili’s team placed them among the top performers in the national pharmaceutical industry.

Entering a new era, Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical has aligned its strategies with national development priorities and market demands, strategically integrating innovation along the industrial value chain. The company has proactively pursued a “API-plus-formulation” development model, yielding a steady stream of groundbreaking innovations. The research contributions of Wei Saili and her team have significantly optimized the company’s formulation product portfolio, driving a remarkable transformation—from an over-reliance on injectables as its sole flagship—to a diversified, specialized, and high-end portfolio that encompasses complex generic drugs, innovative medicines, and improved new drugs. This evolution has continuously strengthened Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical’s position, accelerating its ascent in the national ranking of the top 100 pharmaceutical companies.

Strengthen the “load-bearing walls” of life.

“Drug development is not only about advancing the biopharmaceutical industry; it is also a vital safeguard for public health,” Wei Saili said with deep conviction. “Research findings bridge the entire continuum—from laboratory experiments and manufacturing to delivery to millions of patients. Every aspect, from drug efficacy and dosage to packaging materials and even taste, must be carefully considered and addressed to ensure that patients’ needs are met.”

The experiment requires daily records and progress updates; the faster problems are resolved, the more assured the product will be. To ensure the smooth advancement of SYN-045’s innovative drug target design, Wei Saili and her team frequently work around the clock in the lab. They tackled tough challenges head-on, independently designing targeted drugs. After 40 days and nights of relentless effort, they initially screened 50 compounds—a breakthrough that marked a major milestone in the development of this innovative drug. Subsequently, Wei Saili’s team pressed on without pause, overcoming numerous obstacles and conducting multiple rounds of testing and evaluation, ultimately identifying a single compound with the highest activity that also met industrial-scale production standards.

It wasn’t until she had screened down to a single, suitable compound that Wei Saili realized numerous gray hairs had already sprouted at her temples. “If you choose the path of scientific research, you must accept whatever it brings—both external and internal,” she said, gently tucking a few strands of gray hair behind her ear. As a mother, Wei Saili often feels a deep sense of guilt about her family. “I have so little time to spend with my child. One day, my son saw my gray hair and burst into tears. He said, ‘Mom, I don’t want you to grow old.’” This “load-bearing wall” that sustains her life truly weighs heavily on her shoulders.

Be patient and stay true to your original aspiration—research is life, and love is a song.

For Wei Saili, pulling all-nighters is nothing out of the ordinary. “During critical phases of drug research, Dr. Wei would often spend long hours in the company’s laboratory, working late into the night—sometimes right from the moment the lab lights were switched on, she’d station herself there to closely monitor developments, determined to get to the root of any problem. She would then spend the entire night drafting several potential solutions, only to convene an emergency team meeting the next morning to rigorously test and validate each approach,” recalled her colleague, Lü Jinwei, as he reflected on those unforgettable days in the lab.

“Our pharmaceutical research and innovation takes ‘one step forward,’ bringing patients ‘a little closer’ to full recovery. Scientific research is a process of exploring the real world—there is no room for even the slightest bit of falsity, nor are there any shortcuts,” said Wei Saili. She has held this conviction ever since she first entered the field of drug research.

From a small team of just a few members to a project group of dozens, Wei Saili has led everyone step by step—from initial scale-up optimization and pilot-scale trials to full-scale drug production and continuous improvement of operational challenges in later stages—always with unwavering passion and steadfast perseverance. She has devoted herself wholeheartedly to unraveling the secrets of health, dedicating every ounce of her energy and commitment to the cause she holds so dear.

“It will be the most unforgettable memory of my life,” Wei Saili said emotionally, holding the certificate of honor in her hands. “Winning this award is not only an encouragement and a source of motivation for us researchers, but also a recognition by the Party and the government of our work in pharmaceutical research. It also places greater responsibility and commitment on us as we move forward with our scientific endeavors. I will carry this honor with me, keeping firmly in mind the important instructions delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspections of Hebei Province and Shijiazhuang City on advancing the development of the biopharmaceutical industry. We will continue to put the people and their lives first, and dedicate ourselves to the research, development, and production of more ‘Chinese medicines’ that are tailored to the genetic heritage and physical characteristics of the Chinese population, so that there may be fewer and fewer illnesses and sufferings around the world!”

Keywords:

Shijiazhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone Extends Best Wishes to the Group’s Experts and Talents

The 2024 Policy and Objective Launch Conference and the 2023 Annual Summary and Awards Ceremony of the R&D and Quality Management Center of Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group Were Held.

Shijiazhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone Extends Best Wishes to the Group’s Experts and Talents

The 2024 Policy and Objective Launch Conference and the 2023 Annual Summary and Awards Ceremony of the R&D and Quality Management Center of Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group Were Held.