Qi Zheng Tibetan Medicine’s Lei Jufang: Focusing on the Strengths of Tibetan Medicine

　　CaiXin.com (Reporter Tao Wei, reporting from Linzhi, Tibet) “In the fields of treating rheumatic and rheumatoid diseases as well as rehabilitation for neurological disorders, Tibetan medicine demonstrates remarkably impressive efficacy. Our flagship product, the Xiao Tong Tie Gao plaster, is actually just a small part of Tibetan medicine’s strengths,” said Lei Jufang, Chairwoman of Qizheng Tibetan Medicine (002287), to reporters from Dazhong Securities Daily and CaiXin.com. In her view, relatively standardized treatments tailored to specific conditions represent a key path forward for the development of ethnic medicines. In the area of rheumatic and rheumatoid disease treatment—where she highlighted Qizheng’s work—Qizheng has been conducting research and monitoring for nearly two decades. And in the field of neurological disorder rehabilitation, Qizheng already boasts exclusive products such as Bai Mai Soft Ointment.

　　Focusing on distinctive clinical conditions is the way forward for ethnic medicines.

　　As a leading enterprise in the Tibetan medicine sector, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has maintained steady growth every year since its IPO. According to this year’s interim report, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine’s net profit increased by 16.45%. However, for a long time, the company has given the outside world the impression of “relying on a single product to dominate the market”—with revenue from its pain-relief plaster accounting for more than 70%. Will the company continue to rely solely on its pain-relief plaster in the future? Following the release of this year’s interim report, reporters traveled to Linzhi, Tibet, to conduct research and interviews with Qizheng Tibetan Medicine.

　　“Standardized treatment for specific conditions represents the primary path forward for the development of ethnic medicines. In fact, Tibetan medicine and Tibetan pharmaceuticals have particularly remarkable efficacy in the treatment of rheumatic and rheumatoid diseases as well as in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders. The therapeutic area of musculoskeletal disorders targeted by the pain-relieving plaster is just a small part of the many strengths of Tibetan medicine,” said Lei Jufang.

　　“About 23 or 24 years ago, I realized that there weren’t many effective treatments for rheumatic and rheumatoid diseases worldwide. However, in the Tibetan regions, I actually saw that Tibetan medicine and Tibetan herbal remedies had remarkably good therapeutic effects on these conditions. After Qizheng was established, we’ve been continuously exploring ways to use Tibetan medical approaches to address rheumatoid issues—without ever taking a break,” said Lei Jufang. She emphasized that Tibetan medicine is highly effective against a wide range of rheumatic diseases, causing less pain during treatment, using very few toxic herbs, and being much more affordable. As an example, she cited a specialized hospital located in Lintao, Gansu Province, which has sixty beds but often accommodates as many as eighty patients at peak times.

　　In addition to rheumatic diseases, Lei Jufang believes that Tibetan medicine can also be highly effective in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders. “For symptoms such as being unable to get up after a stroke, having difficulty lifting one’s arm, and walking with unsteady steps, Tibetan medicine offers remarkably good results—quick treatment courses at low cost. Currently, there aren’t many particularly effective medical treatments available for these conditions, so Tibetan medicine essentially fills a critical gap.” At present, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine’s exclusive product, Bai Mai Ointment, is specifically designed for this very area. In Lei Jufang’s view, Bai Mai Ointment represents another blockbuster product, and its future market potential could rival that of Xiao Tong Tie Gao (Pain-Relieving Plaster).

　　The pain-relieving plaster still has potential.

　　“Over the past three years, we’ve continued to place considerable importance on Xiaotong Tie Gao—because for a publicly listed company, it would be a real pity not to fully tap into the potential of some of our existing products. There’s still significant untapped market potential for Xiaotong Tie Gao in certain regions, especially at the grassroots level. It wasn’t until the first and second editions that Xiaotong Tie Gao was included in the National Essential Medicines List, leaving plenty of room for growth. It would be a real shame to give up on this opportunity,” Lei Jufang explained to reporters, elaborating on why they’re still focusing heavily on Xiaotong Tie Gao. She believes that Xiaotong Tie Gao enjoys a solid reputation and delivers noticeable results, and now that it’s been added to the National Essential Medicines List, the necessary policy support is already in place. As a publicly listed company, we should fully leverage these advantages.

　　In addition to the pain-relief plaster, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has several other products currently under development. Besides the exclusively-owned Bai Mai Ointment mentioned earlier, the non-exclusive Qing Peng Ointment is also a product that’s gaining momentum. Qing Peng Ointment is a Tibetan medicine specifically designed for dermatological conditions. Skin diseases are common ailments with relatively low per-unit treatment costs, yet the market for such treatments is quite broad. According to available information, a key distinction between Qing Peng Ointment and conventional products on the market is that it contains no hormones. Currently, all other manufacturers capable of producing Qing Peng Ointment are Tibetan medicine companies. Whether measured by brand strength or distribution channels, these competitors still lag behind Qizheng Tibetan Medicine to some extent. “In the dermatology segment, we may invest even more,” says Lei Jufang, adding that this represents another promising large-scale product worth looking forward to.

　　There may be acquisitions in the greater health sector.

　　In recent years, it has become a trend for pharmaceutical companies to enter the greater health industry, and Lei Jufang is highly optimistic about the greater health market. “In fact, in Western countries, the concept of greater health—early intervention and early prevention—has long been deeply rooted in people’s minds, and using greater health products has already become an international norm. I believe China will follow this same path of development.”

　　She stated that the company will leverage Tibet’s high-quality resources to engage in upstream collaborations within this industry. However, she places greater emphasis on getting the fundamentals right rather than focusing on conceptual ideas. “Conceptual ideas can be quickly imitated by others,” said Lei Jufang.

　　“We will definitely be involved in the greater health sector—but we don’t rule out acquiring or merging with related companies,” Lei Jufang stated.

　　Passing the Test with Evidence-Based Medicine

　　It’s worth noting that the process of promoting Tibetan medicine and Tibetan pharmaceuticals by Qizheng Tibetan Medicine may not be entirely smooth sailing. Due to the general lack of public awareness about Tibetan medicines, their promotion has proven quite challenging, and gaining trust is a crucial issue. Lei Jufang believes that using evidence-based medicine as a key strategy is an essential path forward.

　　So-called evidence-based medicine, also known as empirical medicine, is based on the core principle that medical decisions—including patient management, development of treatment guidelines, and formulation of healthcare policies—should be grounded in the best available clinical research evidence, while also placing great importance on integrating individual clinical experience. In promoting Tibetan medicine, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine will continue to accumulate clinical data and drive sales through academic engagement.

　　According to reports, Qizheng has established a Tibetan medicine school in the Tibetan region to train Tibetan medical practitioners. At the same time, there is also a public-benefit initiative called the “Hundred Tibetan Medicine Clinics,” of which nine clinics have already been opened. As a public-benefit project, both the school and the clinics have played an excellent role in providing clinical validation and helping Qizheng accumulate valuable clinical data.

　　Reporting media: The Mass Securities Journal

　　Report URL: http://www.1caixin.com.cn/article-308595.html