Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. has achieved a significant milestone in China's medical device industry. The company's domestically developed Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) system received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration on January 24, 2025. This approval marks Hengrui's entry into the critical care medical device market, expanding its portfolio beyond pharmaceuticals.
Key Features of the Hengrui ECMO System:
- Fully domestically developed technology
- Comprises main unit, circulation package, cannula, warming device, and puncture kit
- Utilises innovative technologies like magnetically levitated blood pump
- Designed with high stability and low haemolysis characteristics
The ECMO system, which provides life support for patients with severe heart and lung failure, represents a major advancement in China's medical technology sector. Hengrui's ECMO system is the latest in a series of domestically developed ECMO machines approved in China. In February 2023, the country approved its third homegrown ECMO device, developed by STMED Technology. The National Medical Products Administration stated that the quality of these domestically developed ECMO machines is comparable to similar foreign products.
The development of domestic ECMO systems in China has several implications:
- Increased accessibility to advanced life support equipment
- Potential reduction in medical expenditures
- Enhanced supply chain security for critical medical devices
This approval aligns with Hengrui's broader strategy of innovation and expansion. The company has been actively developing new drugs and technologies, as evidenced by its recent success in obesity treatment trials and its ongoing efforts in sustainable development. The global ECMO machine market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and China's domestic developments in this field could potentially impact the international medical device landscape.
(Source: https://www.hrmedical.com.cn/academe_dt/109.html)
Image credit: Hengrui website
