A wave of fresh research is reshaping the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that has long challenged doctors. A recent NEJM‑backed study showed that the antibody‑drug teclistamab cuts the risk of disease progression by 71% in patients whose cancer has returned after one to three prior treatments, offering deeper and longer‑lasting remissions than traditional chemo‑based combos. In China, doctors at Shanghai’s Renji Hospital have been using daratumumab‑based regimens for newly diagnosed patients—especially older adults or those with high‑risk genetics—and have documented strong, durable responses in a long‑term follow‑up cohort. A nationwide analysis of more than 1,300 newly diagnosed patients confirmed that real‑world treatment patterns are aligning with these advances and that survival is improving across risk groups. Two‑year data from the MajesTIC‑1 China cohort reaffirmed teclistamab’s high response rates and manageable side‑effects, even in heavily pre‑treated patients. Meanwhile, a landmark trial found no overall‑survival advantage between continuous versus two‑year lenalidomide maintenance, giving doctors flexibility in long‑term care plans. Exciting early‑phase studies also combined powerful quadruplet drug mixes with dual‑target CAR‑T cells, achieving near‑perfect response rates and deep molecular remission (MRD‑negative) in many patients, with most toxicities limited to mild fever or low‑grade inflammation. Together, these findings point to a future where multiple myeloma can be controlled more effectively, with personalized, less‑toxic options becoming the new standard of care.
Read moreOn the ninth Chinese Doctors’ Day, the nation honors the tireless work of its medical heroes. One standout is a pioneering researcher who, after two decades of study, built a "treatment‑care‑reconstruction" system that lets women with malignant reproductive‑system tumors preserve fertility. Her breakthrough reshaped international guidelines and earned a 2025 State Science and Technology Progress Award, helping thousands of cancer patients achieve motherhood. Across the country, doctors are sharpening skills and expanding services. At Huashan Hospital, a joint team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and local enterprises performed the first clinical trial of an invasive brain‑computer interface, opening new doors for neurological care. Meanwhile, in Hainan, Chief Physician Li Zhijin has spent 16 years mastering traditional Chinese medicine to combat multidrug‑resistant infections, offering a holistic approach that proved vital during the pandemic. President Xi Jinping has called health the nation’s "1," underscoring its priority. From 2012 to 2025, life expectancy rose to 79.3 years, infant mortality fell to 3.8 per 1,000, and maternal deaths dropped to 13.4 per 100,000. Over 90% of residents can now reach a medical facility within 15 minutes, TCM clinics recorded more than 1.6 billion visits, and an extensive disease‑monitoring network spans 84,000 institutions. These achievements reflect the dedication of China’s medical workforce, turning the single digit "1" of health into a foundation for countless "0s" of progress.
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