Bayer's Zhou Xiaolan: Deepening Roots in China, Driving Continuous Innovation to Support Healthy China Initiative

Since the first China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE") was held in 2018, the CIIE has become a window for China to build a new development pattern, a platform to promote high-level opening-up, and an international public good shared globally. The member enterprises of the R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee (hereinafter referred to as "RDPAC") under the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment highly value the CIIE and regard it as an important opportunity to deeply participate in the high-quality development of China's pharmaceutical industry and contribute to Healthy China. In November 2023, 23 RDPAC member enterprises appeared at the sixth CIIE.

On November 6, RDPAC and its members initiated the "Leading Pharmaceutical Innovation and Industry Compliance to Support High-Quality Development" initiative at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Together with Xinhua News Agency, they organized a dialogue on innovation and compliance in the pharmaceutical industry, exploring in depth the practical experiences and feasible paths to promote high-quality development in the pharmaceutical sector and benefit patients in China by driving pharmaceutical innovation and advancing industry compliance.

Xiaolan Zhou, Global Executive Vice President of Bayer AG's Pharmaceuticals Division and President of Bayer China, and President of Bayer Greater China

  Xinhua News Agency:In recent years, with the continuous development of the national health industry, increasing investment in healthcare, and the rapid advancement of internet healthcare, artificial intelligence, and big data precision medicine, China is expected to become the largest healthcare market globally. Facing the vast Chinese market, many foreign pharmaceutical enterprises in China are working to deliver high-quality medical products and services to patients and the public across the country more quickly and efficiently. Could you share your thoughts on how pharmaceutical companies should promote high-quality development and contribute to the construction of Healthy China?

  Zhou Xiaolan:The realization of Healthy China hinges on the improvement of key indicators such as the health level of the people and the increase in life expectancy. However, chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes are significant obstacles to achieving this goal. For pharmaceutical companies, focusing on these key areas, accelerating the renewal and iteration of their product portfolios, and continuously providing more, better, and more affordable medicines to the Chinese market will, to a large extent, contribute to the rapid development of Healthy China.

In the past five years, Bayer has obtained nearly 30 cumulative approvals for new products or new indications in China, achieving an almost globally synchronized launch speed. For the pipeline under development, our requirement for ourselves is not only to ensure a fast market entry, achieving zero time difference with other global markets, but also to make good medicines affordable for ordinary people. We aim to accelerate their inclusion in medical insurance at more affordable prices and faster speeds, benefiting more patients.

  Xinhua News Agency:The 2023 Government Work Report pointed out that it is necessary to further implement the innovation-driven development strategy. For pharmaceutical companies, innovation is the most crucial factor in achieving sustainable development, but innovation is not easy—it requires high investment and involves high risks. At the same time, we know that China's pharmaceutical innovation is still in its early stages, with weak capabilities across all links of the innovation chain. As a pharmaceutical company investing in China, how do you think breakthroughs in innovation can be achieved, and how can we help enhance China’s innovative capabilities?

  Zhou Xiaolan:Innovation: The Eternal Theme of the Pharmaceutical IndustryInnovation is the eternal theme driving the development of the pharmaceutical industry. However, unlike other industries familiar to the general public, the pharmaceutical industry is characterized by high investment, high technological barriers, and long cycles. Therefore, to break through in innovation, Chinese pharmaceutical companies must first increase their long-term investment in research and development. In recent years, we have seen significant investment in China in innovative drugs, particularly in biopharmaceuticals, immunology, cell therapy, and gene therapy.

As a life sciences enterprise with a 160-year history, apart from introducing our latest products to the Chinese market as early and as comprehensively as possible, we are also accelerating strategic cooperation with local innovative enterprises, such as Hua Ling. Leveraging our years of accumulated experience in the diabetes treatment field, we aim to help Hua Ling achieve rapid commercialization in China and, with the support of our global network, successfully expand overseas.

  Xinhua News Agency:For pharmaceutical companies, their high-quality development is not only tied to the industry’s future but also to the health and well-being of the nation and its people. Innovation serves as a crucial pillar for the high-quality development of the pharmaceutical industry. Our company firmly commits to sustainable innovation as the driving force behind our progress.

  Zhou Xiaolan:Bayer's corporate vision is "Health for all, Hunger for none." We are confident in the future of the Chinese market and will remain committed to investing in China, achieving innovative and sustainable development, and contributing to the early realization of the "Healthy China 2030" goals.