The world's first recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) injection derived from rice – developed by Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corp, founded by Professor Yang Daichang of WHU – received regulatory approval in China on July 18. This marks a major milestone in the field of biomedicine.

The recombinant human albumin injection produced by Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corp.

Nicknamed "rice-derived blood", the drug is produced by inserting the human serum albumin gene into rice plants. The rice seeds then generate large amounts of recombinant albumin, which is extracted and purified for medical use.

The drug offers high purity and safety at a significantly lower cost than traditional methods that rely on the extraction of blood plasma. By overcoming long-standing technical barriers and reducing dependence on expensive imports, it addresses critical issues such as blood supply shortages and high production costs.

Yang Daichang, professor at WHU and founder of Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corp.

The breakthrough is the result of over 20 years of dedicated research led by Professor Yang, drawing on WHU's strong capabilities in life sciences. The drug has now entered large-scale production and is expected to reach an annual output of 12 million doses by 2026.

This achievement not only fills a domestic gap but also positions China as a global leader in recombinant protein drugs and plant-based bioreactor technology.