Recently, Li Zhongmei from Wushan County, Chongqing City, reported to Elephant News that after using an immune drug, she developed severe pneumonia in February 2025. The medical diagnosis was “immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonia,” meaning pneumonia caused by the use of immunotherapy drugs. Li Zhongmei told reporters that she had only used one immunotherapy drug before, which was Cardunili monoclonal antibody injection.
Li Zhongmei also had to use an oxygen device, and wherever she went, she had to hold and organize the long oxygen tube that maintained her life. During the interview, Li Zhongmei was breathing heavily, walking around the room while wrapping the hanging oxygen tube on the ground with both hands. “You can eat two fewer meals, but you can’t go without oxygen,” Li Zhongmei said, “You must breathe oxygen well, it’s too difficult.”
She was hospitalized at Southwest Hospital until March 26. After discharge, her home was equipped with three new items: an oxygen concentrator, a wheelchair, and a small oxygen bag the size of a pillow. Now she needs oxygen 24 hours a day, and needs a wheelchair when going out. Her husband Liu Chengfu had to give up his truck driver job and become her full-time caregiver. Whenever they go out, Li Zhongmei, sitting in the wheelchair, has to carry a oxygen concentrator weighing over 30 jin (around 15 kg) and drag a pillow-shaped oxygen bag, which is no easier than her husband.
“In 2013, I had surgery for cervical cancer, and later had multiple recurrences, each time hospitalized at Chongqing University Affiliated Tumor Hospital,” Li Zhongmei recalled. In August 2023, she was readmitted to Chongqing University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinoma, and received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. “During hospitalization, Chief Physician Li constantly recommended a drug called ‘Cardunili,’ saying she knew a medical representative who could help me use it outside the hospital.” Because of the high cost, she initially refused. After completing the first round of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the end of 2023, she returned to her hometown in Wushan County. “Li’s phone kept calling my family, saying that Cardunili might have the potential to completely cure my condition.”
In April 2024, after radiotherapy, during her hospitalization at Chongqing University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, she purchased “Cardunili” from Ran Dengyuan, a representative of Kangfang Biopharmaceuticals, upon the introduction of her attending doctor Li. The pharmaceutical representative stated that this drug could not be administered via infusion in the hospital. The first two purchases were of legitimate marketed drugs, but the third purchase was an experimental drug, with each vial costing 13,220 yuan, labeled “for clinical research only.” She bought a total of six vials.
She told Elephant News that she had to go to a pharmacy called “Aixin Zhida,” designated by Ran Dengyuan, who sometimes delivered the drugs himself or sent someone else. “After receiving the drugs, I also had to go to the neighboring ‘Liu Zuofen Clinic’ for infusion, which costs 160 yuan each time.”
When questioned about the detailed information of this drug, Ran Dengyuan only vaguely said, “Because the company has this drug, I applied for it, and once approved, I distributed it to you.” His words were vague, not directly answering what stage of clinical trial the drug was in or why it was used on Li Zhongmei. It seemed he was just a messenger, not responsible for anything.
A staff member from the Medical Coordination Office of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Mr. Du, verbally stated, “This thing, regardless of what type of drug it is, should not be in your hands right now, understand? Just call the police directly, this involves other matters, it’s a case, okay?”
Starting from April 17, 2024, Li Zhongmei injected 5 vials of Cardunili monoclonal antibody every 21 days. The official packaging of the drug shows the manufacturer as Kangfang Pharmaceutical. The plain white packaging printed with “Chongqing Chinese Medicine Hospital” and “Chongqing Medical University Second Hospital.” According to Mr. Du, before a new drug is launched, it must go through multiple stages including drug development, animal testing, and human clinical trials, with strict regulations on storage, distribution, and market release. During the clinical trial phase, risks are disclosed in advance, and trial participants do not pay for the medication; the research team even provides nutritional supplements like eggs and milk. Clearly, this is an illegal use.
Similarly, patient Tang Xuelian, a 38-year-old resident of Chongqing, also experienced similar issues. She had surgery for cervical cancer in 2017, and in 2023, her condition recurred, leading her to be hospitalized at Chongqing University Affiliated Tumor Hospital. Following the advice of Chief Physician Li, she contacted medical representative Ran Dengyuan in January 2024. Her method of obtaining drugs, infusion location, and even the infusion cost were exactly the same as Li Zhongmei’s, “Infused at Liu Zuofen Clinic, each time costing 160 yuan.”
“I used genuine large-packaged drugs for the first two times, but starting from the third time, I was given this small-packaged version. I don’t understand, and I asked Ran Dengyuan, who said I was getting the best price. Previously, ‘Cardunili’ cost at least 150,000 yuan, and I paid half of what others paid, so I used the small package.”
The accountability process was also difficult. Whether Li Zhongmei and Tang Xuelian participated in drug trials, Ran Dengyuan responded, “Only regulatory authorities can investigate,” but he admitted, “I illegally distributed drugs, I am mentally prepared. Since the government is starting to investigate, we will wait for the results.”
On the afternoon of May 21, Tang Xuelian and Li Zhongmei’s family agreed to go together to the Enforcement Team of the Market Supervision Administration in Shapingba District, Chongqing. The team leader, Guo, said they had previously met with the drug representative Ran Dengyuan and learned some information. It was confirmed that Ran had a formal employment contract with Zhongshan Kangfang Biopharmaceuticals. However, there were discrepancies in their statements, so further investigation was needed. Such investigations typically take a month or more, and due to the complexity of the case, it might take longer.
https://news.ifeng.com/c/8jr1OqRAVuM
