On July 15, Jiefang Daily published a front-page article titled “Serving the Nation, Forging Ahead as a Vanguard – Giving Full Play to Shanghai’s Role as a Driving Force and Model Leader in Advancing Chinese Modernization.” In a special section, “Pharma Takes the Lead,” the report highlighted how Medilink, leveraging its wholly proprietary and differentiated TMALIN® technology platform, successfully developed the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) YL201 and achieved the world’s first positive Phase III results for a B7-H3-targeting ADC. Through international partnerships, the company is bringing hope to patients worldwide. The article praised Medilink’s innovation as clear evidence that Chinese biopharma has evolved from a technology follower to a global supplier of biotech therapeutics.

Below is the original text:

In 1996, the National Shanghai Bio-Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Base was established in Zhangjiang. By 2025, Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry had surpassed one trillion yuan in scale for the first time.

This June, Medilink’s B7-H3-targeting ADC, YL201, achieved positive Phase III results in nasopharyngeal carcinoma – sending shockwaves through the industry. Globally, at least four peers – including Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo and U.S.-based Merck & Co. – are advancing Phase III trials, yet Medilink was the first to confirm the value of the B7-H3 “golden target,” directly validating its proprietary “tumor-microenvironment-activatable linker” technology platform.

As early as January this year, Roche had already locked in YL201, signing a new exclusive licensing agreement with Medilink, under which Medilink received $570 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments. This marked Roche’s second major investment in Medilink.

ADCs combine a targeting antibody with a cytotoxic small-molecule toxin via a specialized linker, offering fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. In the highly competitive ADC space, Medilink’s founder, Xue Tongtong, took a differentiated approach. Rather than chasing the most popular targets at the time, he identified B7-H3 and other underappreciated but highly promising targets. Leveraging its own technology platform, Medilink自主研发 a novel camptothecin-class toxin with activity 5 to 10 times higher than that of Daiichi Sankyo’s DXd (an ADC payload), while remaining stably conjugated to the antibody for over 20 days with no significant detachment. Moreover, Medilink’s ADC technology has accumulated safety data from more than 5,000 patients. This means that when overseas pharmaceutical companies partner with Medilink, they can focus on efficacy without worrying about safety – a testament to Roche’s foresight in betting twice on Chinese innovation, and a clear sign that Chinese biopharma has transformed from a technology follower into a global source of novel therapies.

Medilink will embrace the tide of change, uphold its core values of “innovation-driven, patient-first,” and remain committed to addressing unmet medical needs. Through high-quality innovation, it will serve patients worldwide and inject fresh momentum into China’s pharmaceutical innovation landscape.