On the 16th, the Chang Gung Medical Foundation announced its official signing of a memorandum of understanding with Amgen Taiwan, a leader in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. This partnership marks a new chapter in deepening collaboration in the field of clinical trials. Leveraging Chang Gung's extensive clinical experience alongside Amgen's biotech and pharmaceutical expertise, the collaboration will focus on four key areas: hematologic oncology, cardiovascular diseases, immunology, and nephrology. The aim is to provide patients with more tailored treatment options and to elevate the overall quality of healthcare.
Over the past 14 years, Chang Gung and Amgen have jointly conducted more than 50 clinical trials, achieving significant outcomes. The signing ceremony, held at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on the 16th, further solidified their partnership, with the expectation that their combined efforts will create a synergy greater than the sum of its parts, driving innovative medical technologies forward.
Each year, Chang Gung diagnoses approximately 20,000 new cancer cases across Taiwan, accounting for 18% of the nation's total. The hospital initiates 300 new clinical trials annually, with 74% of these involving new drug research. Additionally, 1-2% of patients participate in early-stage clinical trials. Chang Gung also manages 200 industry-sponsored clinical trials each year, underscoring its leading position and robust capabilities in the clinical trial sector.
Amgen is at the forefront of transforming biotechnology into new treatment methods for patients, employing cutting-edge science and molecular engineering to develop a range of revolutionary drugs. The company has achieved breakthrough results in several therapeutic areas, including bone health, hematologic oncology, cardiovascular diseases, immunology, and nephrology. Additionally, Amgen is actively developing treatments for inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma, as well as metabolic disorders.
Wen Jin Cherng, Chairman of the Chang Gung Medical Foundation Decision-Making Committee, stated that by combining Chang Gung's clinical and medical research capabilities with Amgen's innovative biotech research and development, the partnership will drive industry R&D momentum and medical progress, creating a win-win situation for patients, hospitals, and the industry. Daniel Villegas, General Manager of Amgen Taiwan, expressed that Amgen is able to harness the potential of biotechnology to bring innovative breakthroughs to healthcare. The collaboration with Chang Gung will combine their strengths and resources to accelerate the accessibility of new drugs and expand patient care.
To ensure the safety of human research subjects, the Chang Gung Medical System established its Institutional Review Board (IRB) in 1986, achieving full accreditation from the U.S.-based Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), the highest standard in human research protection. In 2014, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, as the world's largest single-site healthcare institution, received Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, showcasing its exceptional healthcare services and management standards.
As cell therapy technologies rapidly evolve, the newly established Cell Therapy Center at Taoyuan Chang Gung Hospital is aiding physicians in conducting clinical trials for cell therapies and advancing the development of emerging cell therapy products. The center has begun cultivating specific cell types, such as DC, DC-CIK, and CIK, and is collaborating with the CAP-certified Department of Laboratory Medicine to produce high-quality cell products.
Lin, Yung-Chang, Vice Superintendent of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, emphasized that in 2022, Chang Gung established the Clinical Trial Center System to promote the development of clinical trials and coordinate the integration of multi-center resources across campuses. The center provides high-quality clinical trial services, including IRB and contract review, and serves as a single point of contact for clinical trial services, thereby enhancing the execution quality of clinical trials.
Resource (mandarin): 長庚攜手台灣安進推動創新臨床試驗 提升醫療品質
