Roche China Reaffirms Commitment to Deepening Local Presence with 30th Anniversary Milestone and Local Production of Innovative Influenza Drug Xofluza

Thirty years ago, Roche Pharmaceuticals, occupying an area of more than 10,000 square meters, broke ground in Zhangjiang, Pudong, opening the historical curtain of Zhangjiang Medicine Valley. AsThe first multinational enterprise to settle in Pudong's Zhangjiang area, Roche Pharmaceuticals has continuously embraced the ever-evolving Chinese market over the past three decades, consistently introducing innovative medicines into China’s pharmaceutical market and has become a core force in China’s biopharmaceutical industry.

On May 16, the 30th anniversary celebration of Roche Pharmaceuticals China, themed "Brilliant Thirty, Shaping the Future Together," was held at the Roche campus. Attendees included Padraic Ward, Head of Roche Pharmaceuticals International, representatives from the Roche Pharmaceuticals International leadership team, the Roche China leadership team, government officials, doctors, patients, partners, and retired employee representatives, all of whom witnessed this milestone event.

At the anniversary celebration, Roche officially announced a major decision:The innovative anti-influenza drug Xofluza will achieve localized production in China by the end of 2024.

Roche remains committed to its original mission and promise to patients in the Chinese market, continuously increasing investment to meet urgent market demands. Last year, influenza viruses wreaked havoc in China, overwhelming hospitals with patients.Due to the characteristic of only requiring one dose for the entire treatment course and its significant efficacy, Xofluza (速福达) has quickly been hailed as a "miracle drug for influenza."Offline pharmacies are out of stock, and online purchases rely on "flash sales," often leading to a scarcity of medicines. Now, by increasing the supply through localized production, it can undoubtedly meet the needs of more Chinese flu patients in the most direct and efficient way.

This decision happening to Roche is not surprising. Starting from the first neuroscience product 30 years ago, Roche has continuously introduced innovative products to China. What are Roche China’s expectations and plans for the next thirty years?

At the celebration, Padraic Ward, Head of International at Roche Pharmaceuticals, solemnly stated:"Roche's connection with China spans a century, consistently committed to improving the health of the Chinese population. In the future, leveraging China’s favorable market size, economic volume, and innovative ecosystem, Roche will accelerate its progress within China's innovation opportunities, further deepen its presence in the country, and continue to help Chinese patients enhance their quality of life."

Padraic Ward, Head of Roche Pharmaceuticals International, Delivers Speech

To further expand and deepen its local presence in China, and to reinforce its long-term commitment to development in the country, Roche has formulated a more extensive strategic plan and a clearer vision: to continuously be a leading multinational pharmaceutical company in China, enabling more patients to benefit from Roche's innovative medicines while accelerating the availability of more China-originated innovations.

Continuously Introducing Global Innovations

Fulfilling Commitment in the Chinese Market

MabThera, Herceptin, and Avastin, these well-known innovative drugs, have for a long time been the distinctive marks of Roche in the Chinese market. Roche's leading position in China's oncology field also stems from this. Now,Roche has always been at the forefront of foreign pharmaceutical companies. Roche is not only a leader in the field of oncology but also an outstanding player in the specialty medicine sector.

"Over the past 30 years, we have introduced 28 innovative products covering eight major therapeutic areas. In addition to continuously providing innovative therapies and solutions, we are also committed to ensuring that patients in China can access and afford these excellent medicines. We are making comprehensive efforts to advance the health and well-being of the Chinese people," said Bian Xin, General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals China, in an interview.

Speech by Bian Xin, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals China

As a leader in the field of hematology, Roche resonates with China's speed, continuously revolutionizing the treatment standards for blood diseases and accelerating the pace of benefiting patients in China.Since the approval of the world's first targeted drug, MabThera (rituximab), in China, over two decades have seen the introduction of Hemlibra (emicizumab), the world’s first non-factor prophylactic treatment for hemophilia, Gazyva (obinutuzumab), a humanized glycoengineered CD20 antibody, Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), the world’s first CD79b antibody-drug conjugate, and Lunsumio (glofitamab), the world’s first CD20/CD3 bispecific antibody for relapsed or refractory lymphoma. These innovations continuously set new standards for the standardized treatment of aggressive and indolent lymphomas across all lines of therapy, as well as preventive care for hemophilia. Notably,Roche also successfully launched the innovative drug PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria) treatment, Enkyvio, for the first time in China.

In the field of breast cancer, Roche leads the way toward precise and curative treatments. From introducing Herceptin, the world’s first targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer in 2002, to the subsequent "Herceptin + Perjeta" dual-target therapy and China's first ADC drug Kadcyla, and now with the innovative subcutaneous formulation of Herceptin and Phesgo,For more than 20 years, Roche has helped countless Chinese breast cancer patients achieve a progressive recovery—from physical healing to psychological healing and then to social functional recovery—allowing them to spend less time as patients and more time being themselves.

After years of in-depth耕耘 in the field of lung cancer, Roche has brought diverse innovative therapies, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, to Chinese patients with lung cancer, achieving comprehensive coverage from early to advanced stages. In particular, continuous breakthroughs are being made in the treatment of ALK-positive lung cancer, which will soon bring sustained benefits to Chinese patients with early-stage lung cancer and help move lung cancer in China towards an era of chronic disease management.

In the field of gastrointestinal tumors, Roche's innovative solutions continue to emerge, breaking through survival limitations and transforming liver cancer into a chronic disease, helping China move from being a major country in gastrointestinal tumors to becoming a strong player in this field. Tecentriq combined with Avastin ("T+A" therapy), as pioneers in the era of immunotherapy, lead liver cancer treatment from "targeted therapy" into a new era of "immunotherapy." Meanwhile, Roche actively optimizes its pipeline layout and explores new immunotherapy options.Based in China, Roche is committed to collaborating with Chinese experts to co-create and co-develop, and through AI exploration of the "Digital Decision Support Model for Liver Cancer," it aims to contribute a "Chinese solution" to liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Roche continuously brings innovative anti-influenza drugs, from national affairs to the medicine cabinets of ordinary people. From the well-known anti-influenza drug Tamiflu to the new generation "miracle drug against influenza" Xofluza, which is the first anti-influenza drug approved in 20 years with an innovative mechanism of action. It has now achieved medical insurance coverage, supports online drug purchases through internet hospitals, providing Chinese people with a new, convenient, and effective flu solution. It also expands the treatment of influenza for children aged 5-12, contributing to the development of China's public health sector. This year..., Xofluza will soon achieve localized production in China, benefiting Chinese patients more quickly.

With nearly 20 years of extensive experience and technical reserves in ophthalmology accumulated globally, Roche is poised to usher in a new era of innovation and leadership in retinal disease diagnosis and treatment. Last year, Roche introduced Lumykras, the world's first bispecific antibody drug for ophthalmology, which significantly enhances long-term vision benefits and improves the quality of life for many Chinese patients with retinal diseases.

Moreover, Roche has brought a series of innovative products that provide long-term care for Chinese patients in the fields of neuroscience, immunology, and organ transplantation. Today, Roche has become the undisputed king of innovative drugs in the Chinese market.

In terms of drug accessibility, Roche continuously explores diverse models to enhance the accessibility and affordability of its innovative products. It actively participates in and supports the sustainable development of a multi-layered medical security system, including China's national health insurance. Currently, Roche has 14 innovative drugs that have entered the national health insurance through negotiation.

The Next Thirty Years

Comprehensively Strengthen the Complete Pharmaceutical Value Chain

From Roche's continuous efforts to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market and reinforce an end-to-end complete pharmaceutical value chain—including early R&D, drug development, production, marketing, and open collaboration—we can find the answer.

As one of the earliest foreign pharmaceutical companies to establish a research and development center in China, Roche has been rooted in China for twenty years and continues to increase its investment. Today, the Roche China Innovation Center possesses independent decision-making authority for new drug research and early development. Covering the fields of immunology, oncology, and metabolic diseases, it consistently develops innovative medicines for patients.As of the end of 2023, the number of invention patents generated by the innovation center has exceeded 300, more than half of which have been granted patent authorization in China, the United States, the European Union, or Japan. In addition, the innovation center, in collaboration with global R&D departments, has successfully advanced 10 drug molecules to the clinical trial stage.

Roche Pharmaceuticals China 30th Anniversary Celebration

"Over the past 20 years, we have continuously increased our R&D investment in China, gradually establishing the Roche China Innovation Center, which is composed of 250 scientists."IWeBasedIn drug discovery and early clinical development, with strategic and pipeline decision-making autonomy, covering disease areas such as oncology, immunology, and metabolism."Dr. Shen Hong, Head of Roche China Innovation Center, said."

While pursuing independent research and development, Roche continuously supports the development of biopharmaceutical innovation in China by incubating local innovations, accelerating the transformation of scientific research into product results, and facilitating China’s innovative output to benefit patients in China and globally at an earlier stage. Notably, the Roche China Accelerator, launched in 2021, now includes more than ten member enterprises from local innovation companies. These member companies have established over 10 early-stage R&D collaborations with the Roche China Innovation Center, jointly exploring new scientific directions and technological platforms. Additionally,In the past two years, Roche has reached three global exclusive licensing agreements with three local innovative pharmaceutical companies to jointly develop innovative therapeutic drugs in multiple oncology fields, promoting more Chinese innovations to benefit patients.

Bian Xin summarized, "As one of the earliest multinational enterprises to enter China, over the past thirty years, Roche has adhered to the original aspiration of 'acting on patients' needs first,' leading pharmaceutical innovation, optimizing the innovative ecosystem, and jointly creating a brilliant chapter. Standing at the new starting point of its 30th anniversary,Roche will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market by enhancing collaboration across the complete pharmaceutical value chain. By joining forces with multiple stakeholders, Roche is committed to building a healthy, bright, and sustainable future for Chinese patients, contributing to the early realization of the grand blueprint of ‘Healthy China 2030.’

By｜Li Ao

Editor｜Jiang Yun, Jia Ting

Operation | Twenty Thirteen

Statement: Original content by Jian Shi Ju, please do not reprint without permission.

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