Novartis China and Beijing Sunshine Charity Foundation Sign Strategic MoU to Advance CML Treatment and Patient Support

China Finance and Economics Network, November 8th: Yesterday at the 7th CIIE, Novartis China and Beijing New Sunshine Charity Foundation ("New Sunshine") officially signed a strategic cooperation memorandum. This collaboration aims to jointly enhance the treatment capacity for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and establish a support system, helping improve patients' quality of life, actively supporting public welfare development in the CML treatment field, and continuously promoting upgrades in CML treatment outcomes.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a malignant disease of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by myeloid hyperplasia. A large number of immature white blood cells in patients can interfere with the normal production of blood cells, leading to anemia, bleeding, infections, and even organ dysfunction, posing a threat to life. In China, CML patients tend to be younger, with a median age of onset between 40-45 years.

Ian Lee, President and Managing Director of Novartis China, stated: "Novartis has been deeply involved in the field of blood diseases for many years. Upholding the concept of 'patient-centeredness,' we actively collaborate with all parties to continuously improve the treatment standards in the CML field and promote the sustainable development of public welfare initiatives. I am very pleased that Novartis can seek close cooperation opportunities with New Sunshine. Relying on the resources and strengths of both parties, through exploring a series of collaborations aimed at building better treatment solutions and establishing support systems, we are committed to improving disease treatment and management, and enhancing the quality of life for CML patients."

Beijing New Sunshine Charity Foundation is one of the leading charitable organizations in China that focuses on medical and health services. It not only has the only civilian bone marrow bank in China, but is also the first civilian public welfare organization in the country to fund medical research. Additionally, it is the first organization to introduce the International CML Awareness Day activities to China.

"I myself am a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and a beneficiary of innovative drugs. To help patients like me, I founded the New Sunshine Foundation. Knowing well the challenges and difficulties faced by CML patients, New Sunshine fully launched the CML Information Service and Advocacy Project in 2012. The foundation is committed to supporting patients through a series of initiatives, bringing warmth to their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery journey. I am very pleased to reach a strategic cooperation with Novartis, a leading pharmaceutical company in the research and development of innovative drugs that highly values listening to patients' voices. In the future, we look forward to providing more comprehensive services and support that better meet the needs of CML patients through close collaboration and active exploration between both parties. More CML patients will embrace a brighter tomorrow," said Liu Zhengchen, founder and chairman of the New Sunshine Foundation.

It is reported that in this strategic cooperation between Novartis and New Sunshine, the two parties will work together in several important aspects such as deeply understanding patient needs, patient services, and promoting the improvement of diagnostic and treatment capabilities. By actively exploring various cooperation methods, they will help patients enhance their self-management abilities; make full use of the advantageous resources of both parties to promote exchanges among clinical experts and scholars, and support the continuous development in the field of CML treatment. At the same time, Novartis also considers supporting New Sunshine in optimizing and expanding its existing public welfare projects in the treatment of diseases such as CML, to further enhance their influence and coverage.