List of clinical needs for new Chinese materia medica development (second batch)

<x>Abstract</x> <sec> <title>Objectives:</title> To develop the <italic>List of Clinical Needs for New Chinese Materia Medica Development (Second Batch</italic>), aiming to identify and highlight specific diseases with pressing, unmet therapeutic needs. The objective is to guide pharmaceutical research and development (R&amp;D) by establishing development priorities based on clinical gaps, epidemiological burden, and the shortcomings of existing treatments. </sec> <sec> <title>Methods:</title> The list was developed by the China Association of Chinese Medicine using a methodology grounded in evidence and expert consensus. </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> The list identifies 8 diseases with significant clinical gaps: Myelodysplastic syndromes, fibromyalgia, atrophic gastritis and its precancerous lesions, adenomyosis, diabetes related foot ulcers, granulomatous mastitis, diabetic kidney disease, and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. For each disease, the list provides a systematic analysis of epidemiological burden, limitations of current treatments, and specific clinical needs. It also proposes a strategic research framework focused on multi-target mechanisms, disease-modifying potential, and optimized combination therapies. </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions:</title> The list provides a strategically structured framework to guide the development of new Chinese materia medica. It aligns traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) development with national public health priorities, emphasizes TCM’s holistic and multi-target advantages, and promotes a patient-centered approach. By bridging clinical needs with TCM principles, the list aims to foster the creation of clinically valuable medicines to address chronic and complex diseases where current western medical approaches are insufficient. </sec>