Premier Li calls for Sino-Singaporean cooperation in cancer-fighting technologies

China and Singapore can further explore cooperation in developing anti-cancer technologies to bring hope to patients and their families, Premier Li Keqiang said during a visit to a pharmaceutical company in Singapore on Nov 13.

Premier Li visited Tessa Therapeutics during his official visit to Singapore and attendance at a series of meetings in the city-state.

A supervisor at the company introduced their technologies in artificial stimulation of the immune system to treat cancers. They have cooperated with many medical institutions from the United State, South Korea and Japan, and performed over 400 injections with good results in clinical trials.

The Premier asked questions about the integration of cultivating immune cells with drugs and T cells, and reducing treatment costs.

He also expressed his hope to work with the company to reduce the suffering of cancer patients and relieve their families’ burdens.

China has more than 3 million new cancer patients each year, and for those patients, time is life, said the Premier. Efforts should be made to set up a cooperation mechanism with global forces, which will benefit both Chinese patients and the whole world.

During the visit, Premier Li walked into the company’s experiment lab and visited the whole process of T cell research, production and transportation.

He talked with the supervisor, asking how much the treatment cost after clinical application, if there is high requirement for doctors and any side effects.

The supervisor commented that Premier Li is an expert. The Premier said he just wants to find more options for Chinese cancer patients and their families, and bring them hope.

Decisions about cancer at State Council executive meetings and zero import tariffs for cancer drugs show that cancer treatment has been among the Premier’s major concerns.