China Direct

AstraZeneca announces plans to increase China R&D capabilities

CBI member and global biopharmaceuticals giant, AstraZeneca has announced plans to increase its research and development capabilities in China.

The company plans to localise the R&D phase of seven medicines in China in a bid to strengthen its R&D capabilities in China as well as lower costs for patients.

According to Wang Lei, the CEO of AstraZeneca, the company will “take advantage of its production and logistics bases in Wuxi and Taizhou in Jiangsu Province to mass produce high-quality and low-cost medicines. […] we will use our [China-based] production advantages to raise production and lower costs, so that patients can benefit from more reasonable prices.”

In the 25 years which AstraZeneca has been present in the China market, the company has brought 30 products to market. That figure is about to rise to 31, as the company prepares to introduce a new Renal Anaemia medication to market.

According to Wang Lei, by localising R&D in China, AstraZeneca will not only be in a position to better serve the China market, but also the other 70 countries around the world to which the company exports its products; most of which are developing countries.

Foreign companies wishing to engage the China market have found that they are beginning to have more and more success as a result of localising phases of product development and manufacturing. For example, Wang says that by building AstraZeneca’s capacity in China, the company will be better placed to “meet the country’s ever-changing medical needs and pain points.” Nonetheless, the company is already reporting significant success in China; which has become AstraZeneca’s second-largest market. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that China is the second-largest medical consumption market in the world.

According to Wang, the decision to increase capacity in China was made to reflect the fact that China is the company’s fastest-growing market, with 12% y/y growth in 2017. AstraZeneca has invested $750 million in China to date, but this investment was mostly related to the import of foreign drugs into China.

This latest announcement marks a new phase. From now on, AstraZeneca will develop new drugs locally in China and will shift its emphasis towards specific medicines and anti-cancer drugs.

Astrazeneca performing well amid China healthcare reform

CBI Member, AstraZeneca has seen an increase in sales and drug-approvals as the Chinese government expands state insurance.

Despite new regulations forcing pharmaceutical companies to cut the prices of their products, AstraZeneca has reported a 24% increase in sales in the last quarter compared to the same period this time last year.

AstraZeneca’s reported growth spike is seemingly the rule rather than the exception, with U.S pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer reporting similar growth and the EU Chamber of Commerce reporting that 83% of EU pharmaceuticals companies active in China are optimistic about growth.

China’s pharmaceuticals industry generated $123bn in sales last year, a figure which is expected to grow as the Chinese population ages and becomes more affluent.

 

 

 

AstraZeneca and Luye Pharma enter rights agreement to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in UK, China

 

CBI member AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Luye Pharma Group, Ltd. (Luye Pharma) for the sale and licence of the rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the UK, China and other international markets, including Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Malaysia and South Africa.

The transaction is part of AstraZeneca’s strategy to focus on its three main therapy areas of Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory. Seroquel, used primarily to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disease, has lost its compound patent protection globally; the Seroquel XR formulation patents have now also expired in the vast majority of markets.

AstraZeneca partnered the rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in Japan and Venezuela under prior agreements.

Please read more here.

AstraZeneca chief executive hails China push

The chief executive of CBI member AstraZeneca has hailed a big push into China, unveiling collaborations with two big Chinese technology companies and forecasting sales growth in the country of more than 20 per cent in the coming year.

The Anglo-Swedish drug maker has signed memorandums of understanding with Ali Health, a subsidiary of Alibaba, and Tencent, with the aim of harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence and the “internet of things” to improve care for patients. No value has been placed on the deals.

Unveiling full-year results earlier this month, Astra said sales in China had grown 15 per cent in the past year, to just under $3bn, and by 30 per cent in the last quarter alone. Pascal Soriot, chief executive, contrasted this with a market that, overall, was growing at between 6 per cent and 8 per cent, “so we truly have a fantastic performance there”.

Please read more here.

CBI makes the case for British Business in China

 

CBI MAKES THE CASE FOR BRITISH BUSINESS IN CHINA

The CBI’s Director-General is visiting China this week on a trade visit with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

“The Sino-British relationship is a tremendous success story. From services to schools, and iPhones to tea, our countries have a special and integral place in each other’s lives.

“British businesses are keen to play their part in further deepening and engraining the economic ties between China and the United Kingdom. With the consumer market alone worth over £3.3 trillion, this relationship creates thousands of jobs in the UK and China, raising living standards and boosting productivity.

“As the UK forges a new global trading future, it is well ahead of the curve in making the most of its relationship with the world’s fastest growing economy. By making inroads into China’s lesser economically known regions, the UK stands to profit from China’s move from manufacturing and infrastructure into technology and services, writing a new chapter in the golden era of relations.”

30 January 2018

Notes to Editors:

Read the CBI’s latest report on British trade and investment with China, Sterling Assets China.

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

Media Contact:

CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: press.office@cbi.org.uk. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets), Carolyn Fairbairn (CBICarolyn) and CBI China (CBIBEIJING) on Twitter.

GSK launches innovative antiretroviral medicine in China

GSK announced that Triumeq (generic name: dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine all-in-one tablet), the innovative antiretroviral (ARV) drug by its subsidiary joint venture ViiV Healthcare, was officially launched in mainland China.

Triumeq is the first Single Tablet Regimen (STR) for HIV treatment in mainland China which offers Chinese people living with HIV/AIDS the convenience of a single-pill once-a-day regimen. Triumeq, the only 3-in-1 ARV that contains dolutegravir (DTG), is highly effective and well-tolerated.

It poses a high barrier to drug resistance with few drug-drug interactions and can be administered as a single once daily tablet. Triumeq significantly reduces the pill burden on patients, enhances patient drug adherence, and significantly improves their quality of life.

Please read more here.

Walgreens Boots Alliance to Invest in Chinese Pharmacy Chain GuoDa

Please refer to the attached Press Release for more details of CBI member WalgreensBootsAlliance (WBA) and its 40% stake in the Shanghai based C

Download WBA - Accord Guoda release FINAL 06122017 7am G

Astrazeneca announces new China pharmaceuticals joint venture

 

CBI member AstraZeneca today announced a strategic joint venture with the Chinese Future Industry Investment Fund (FIIF) to form an equally-owned, stand-alone company in China to discover, develop and commercialise potential new medicines to help meet unmet needs globally, and to bring innovative new medicines to patients in China faster.

FIIF is managed by the SDIC Fund Management Company (SDIC Fund), a private equity management company. The new company, Dizal Pharmaceutical, incorporates all scientific and technical capabilities of AstraZeneca’s Innovation Centre China (ICC), and holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialise three potential medicines currently in pre-clinical development from AstraZeneca’s pipeline in its main therapy areas of oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and respiratory.

It is also expected to initiate novel clinical programmes. The FIIF will contribute funding and expertise in establishing strategic partnerships in China. Dr. Xiaolin Zhang, previously Head of AstraZeneca’s ICC, has been named as Chief Executive Officer of the new company. All staff employed by the ICC have been invited to join the new company.

Please read more here.

CBI Sterling Assets Report on China Roadshow

 

  

The inaugural Sterling Assets Report has been on a pan-China Roadshow since its launch on Thursday 02 November in Beijing.

The objective of the Roadshow was to circulate the Report's key findings to the diverse and dynamic UK business network in China and encourage policymakers and local officials to use the Report to promote greater UK-China business investment. 

Additionally the Report was received by business stakeholders the CBBC, British Chambers, Department of International Trade (DIT) and a visiting delegation of the All Party Parliamentary China Group in Guangzhou.

China Direct would like to sincerely thank HM Consuls Cecile Elbeleidi in Chongqing, HM Consul Karen Maddocks in Guangzhou, HM Consul John Edwards in Shanghai and HM Consul Nick Whittingham in Wuhan for their support.

 

    

Please note that China Direct will have the Chinese language version of the Report available for review and download by mid-November.

Kindly find the original Report and Executive Summary attached below for your reference.

Download CBI China Sterling Assets Report

Download Sterling Assets China Executive Summary

Thank you. 

  

GSK wins China approval for child asthma medicine

CBI member GSK has announced that its Flixotide Nebules (generic name: Fluticasone Propionate Nebuliser Suspension) has been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), for the treatment of mild to moderate asthma acute exacerbations in children and adolescents aged 4 – 16 years.

Flixotide Nebules can significantly improve lung function and relieve acute symptoms through continuous strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Dr. Wim Swyzen, VP and Country Medical Director for GSK China said: “It’s medically important and critical to prevent and adequately manage asthma and exacerbations in children.

The approval of Flixotide Nebules provides an important option to help relieve acute symptoms for Chinese children with asthma and effectively reduce application of systemic corticosteriods.”

Please read more here.