Former Eli Lilly China VP Fu Qiyue Joins GSK China as Vice President and Head of Anti-Infectives

Nov 14, 2024 17:31 CST Updated 17:31

GSK

Pharmaceutical R&D Manufacturer

Recently, GSK China announced that Fu Qi Yue, former Vice President of Lilly China's Cross-Biochemical Products Division, will join GSK China's Specialty Medicines Division as Vice President and Head of Anti-Infectives. Fu Qi Yue will report directly to Zhang Ning, head of GSK China's Specialty Medicines business.

Frequent Personnel Changes in Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies in China

Fu Qiuyue has extensive experience working in multinational pharmaceutical companies. Before joining GSK, she held positions at several multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and Bayer, and served in various senior executive roles at Eli Lilly China. After joining GSK, Fu Qiuyue will be fully responsible for the business operations of the HIV and hepatitis product groups in the anti-infective field, and will promote the accelerated launch of the new long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, Apretude.

Fu Qi's joining is a microcosm of the personnel changes among multinational pharmaceutical companies in China. In recent years, frequent personnel changes among these companies in the Chinese market also reflect the continuous adjustment of their business strategies in China.

According to "Siqui Circle" observations, changes in senior management personnel of multinational pharmaceutical companies in China often accompany adjustments in business structures and fine-tuning of strategic directions. For example, Sanofi transferred the sales of multiple products in China to local pharmaceutical company Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding; Roche entrusted the sales and distribution of some products in the Chinese market to domestic pharmaceutical distributor Sinopharm Group and accordingly streamlined and optimized its sales team; Pfizer China's vaccine division was disbanded; and Sandoz China was entirely packaged and sold to Ascendis Health. These changes indicate that multinational pharmaceutical companies are reshaping their China strategies, adapting more efficiently to the Chinese market through personnel changes and business structure adjustments.

Business Architecture Adjustment and Strategic Transformation

Accompanying the wave of executive departures are adjustments in business structure and strategic transformation. In recent years, multiple pharmaceutical companies have carried out business restructuring, including the division of business units, establishment of new departments, and integration of internal resources.

"Siqi Circle" learned that AstraZeneca China has carried out several business structure adjustments in recent years. In 2022, AstraZeneca China merged the Respiratory & Immunology Business Unit with the Digestive and Respiratory Nebulization Business Unit to form the Respiratory, Digestive and Immunology Business Unit; In 2023, AstraZeneca China split this business unit into two major business units again to better integrate internal resources and improve operational efficiency.

In addition, Pfizer China has also carried out business structure adjustments and cost optimization plans. At the end of 2023, Pfizer China dissolved its vaccine business unit and handed over the exclusive importation, distribution, and promotion of its 13-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV13 vaccine) in mainland China to Keyuan Trade, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, for agency. These adjustments help reduce costs and improve efficiency, reflecting its strategic layout and resource allocation across different business areas.

The Strategic Considerations Behind

The adjustment of multinational pharmaceutical companies' business structure in China is not only to respond to market changes but also to maintain competitiveness in the fierce market competition.

According to "Siqi Circle" observations, some multinational pharmaceutical companies are optimizing their business lines in China through a "contraction" strategy. For example, multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer are adjusting their commercialization strategies, engaging in broader cooperation with local enterprises, and exploring new business models; other multinational pharmaceutical companies choose an "expansion" strategy, continuously increasing their investment in China. AstraZeneca invested 700 million US dollars in Qingdao to build a factory, promoting the establishment of an inhalation aerosol production base project, and added nearly 400 million US dollars of investment in Wuxi to build a new small molecule drug factory. Novartis has set up a nuclear medicine base in China and acquired Sinopharm Rono to strengthen its kidney disease layout.

The adjustment of multinational pharmaceutical companies' business structures reflects the game between risk avoidance and opportunity orientation. Before the pandemic, most multinational pharmaceutical companies adopted an "opportunity-oriented" mindset, actively increasing their investment in the Chinese market; after the pandemic, some companies began to adopt a "risk-averse" mindset, paying more attention to assessing potential risks and impacts. This shift in thinking has also influenced the business layout and strategic choices of multinational pharmaceutical companies in China.

Source: Siqi Club

Author: Siqi Li

Editor: xiaowei

Business Cooperation

130 6172 3098

zakk.cui@siqibest.com

ClickRead the original text Learn More