Roche Celebrates 30 Years in China, Unveils New Global Innovations at CIIE 2023

ShanghaiNovember 5, 2023PR Newswire -- Today, the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has arrived as scheduled. As one of the "old friends" who first expressed support to the Ministry of Commerce and participated in the CIIE, Roche is attending the CIIE for the sixth time, showcasing a full portfolio of nearly 30 products, including 6 that are about to be launched in China.Global InnovationProducts, writing a new blueprint for a healthy future. With the grand opening of the CIIE, Roche held the "2023 Roche CIIE Opening Ceremony and Roche Pharmaceuticals China 30th Anniversary Launch Event" today. Cao Hongying, Standing Vice President of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, Jin Qinxian, Dean of Tsinghua Industrial Development Research Institute of Beijing, Zhou Shihua, General Manager of the Health Division of Xinhua News Agency, Bian Xin, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals China, Dr. Li Xin, Head of Roche Global Drug Development China Center, and representatives of Roche Pharmaceuticals China's management team attended the event and witnessed this important moment.

2023 Roche CIIE Opening Ceremony and Roche Pharmaceuticals China 30th Anniversary Launch Event

Mr. Cao Hongying, Standing Vice President of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, stated: "China is currently in an important period of high-quality development. The CIIE has been held for six consecutive years, which is also a major testament to China's ongoing expansion of opening-up and enhancement of its level of openness. The China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment will also actively play a bridging role, facilitating economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges among its members, and optimizing resource allocation. We hope that through Swiss companies like Roche, we can use the CIIE to promote exchanges between China and Switzerland, bringing more international innovative product solutions to China and benefiting Chinese patients."

Cao Hongying, Standing Vice President of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment

Roche Pharma China President Bian Xin stated: "The CIIE is a window for sharing 'China's opportunities' with the world, and has become an excellent launch and gathering place for global innovative products and cutting-edge technologies. It also provides an excellent platform for communication and exchange among all parties. This year, we bring nearly 30 marketed and upcoming products across our full portfolio, along with innovative solutions, to attend the sixth CIIE. We are launching six groundbreaking global innovative products that will soon be available in China, covering disease areas such as ophthalmology, hematology-oncology, breast cancer, and neuroscience. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Roche Pharma’s establishment in China. Over these three decades, guided by our mission to 'pursue patient needs first,' we have led pharmaceutical innovation, optimized the innovation ecosystem, and co-created a brilliant chapter. In the future, while accelerating the introduction of innovative drugs into China, Roche will continue to collaborate with multiple partners, explore new cooperation models, and focus on building an innovative, collaborative, and diverse local healthcare ecosystem, contributing to the grand blueprint of 'Healthy China 2030.'"

President of Roche Pharmaceuticals China, Bian Xin

Li Xin, Head of Roche Global Pharma Development China Center, stated: "Roche's rich and diverse product pipeline is the foundation that allows us to continuously provide innovative disease solutions for patients in China and around the world, and a strong product pipeline cannot be separated from substantial investment in R&D. Roche is always committed to collaborating with various parties, adhering to science, constantly pushing boundaries, and expanding our increasingly diversified product portfolio while delivering these innovative solutions to patients in China and globally to address unmet patient needs."

Li Xin, Head of Roche Global Drug Development Center in China

Full Product Matrix at CIIE Creates Innovation Feast

This year, Roche has set the theme "Innovate Together, Lead the Future," embedding the two key elements of "innovation" and "collaboration" deeply into its 1,000-square-meter booth. The landmark installation at the center of the booth features a staggered and progressively layered circular structure, showcasing Roche's dynamic innovation and open collaboration framework. It symbolizes Roche’s partnership in diagnostics and therapeutics, working hand-in-hand with ecosystem partners to safeguard the future of human health. Roche also unveiled its nearly 30-product portfolio matrix and innovative solutions that are either already on the market or soon to be launched at this year’s CIIE. Among them, in addition to several blockbuster products already available in China, there are six globally innovative products that will soon launch in China, covering major disease areas such as ophthalmology, hematology-oncology, breast cancer, and neuroscience. Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Roche Pharma China, Wei Li Long, explained: "In addition to showcasing global innovative products and cutting-edge technologies, Roche will host multiple high-profile launches at the CIIE stage, featuring breakthrough innovations to benefit Chinese patients. Furthermore, the booth offers interactive, digital, and tech-savvy experience installations, including a 3D personalized healthcare experience center, a convenient injection experience module for breast cancer patients, an anti-influenza interactive area, and a demonstration device for hematological oncology mechanisms, providing immersive experiences that highlight Roche’s continuous focus on innovation to benefit patients."

Roche is committed to becoming a leader in the ophthalmology field and continues to invest in research, development, and innovation within this domain, striving to meet the unmet needs of patients with visual impairments. At this year's CIIE, Roche introduced Faricimab, the world’s first bispecific antibody for intravitreal injection. Its innovative mechanism effectively extends the duration of drug action, stabilizes blood vessels, and reduces fluid leakage, thereby improving patient vision and achieving long-term disease control. As a leader in hemato-oncology, Roche boasts a rich product pipeline. This time, Roche brought Glofitamab, an innovative bispecific antibody targeting CD20/CD3. As a next-generation ready-to-use immunotherapy, it has the potential to further enhance the likelihood of curing relapsed or refractory lymphoma. Another innovative drug, Crovalimab, used to treat Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation and last year received Priority Review status from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). It is expected to become Roche's first innovative drug launched in China ahead of Europe and the U.S., marking a China-first launch and filling the treatment gap for Chinese PNH patients. This also represents Roche’s groundbreaking attempt, supported by various parties, to better serve Chinese patients by actively exploring the "global first launch" pathway for innovative drugs in China. In the field of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Roche introduced Phesgo, the world’s first subcutaneous combination formulation targeting HER2-positive breast cancer.^®This is the first time Roche has combined two monoclonal antibodies, which can be administered through a single subcutaneous injection, significantly reducing administration time (only 5-8 minutes). It provides patients with a faster and less invasive new treatment option, comprehensively enhancing the treatment experience for breast cancer patients and bringing a complete upgrade to the treatment model for cancer patients. Roche has long been committed to the field of neuroscience, and at this CIIE, it introduced Ocrelizumab, the world's first and only drug approved for treating both relapsing multiple sclerosis and primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Layout of New Product Strategy Welcomes "Brilliant Thirty" New Chapter

Roche has continuously explored innovative treatment solutions for patients. Looking ahead to the next 30 years, Roche will focus on three key areas: continuously upgrading and perfecting the full pharmaceutical value chain in China; deepening its presence in the Chinese market, strengthening its roots in China, launching innovative products, and broadening the reach and depth of these innovations to benefit more patients; and further enhancing local collaborations to establish China as a globally leading innovation hub, achieving "Created in China" so that "Created in China" can ultimately benefit patients worldwide.

Roche China Pharma will celebrate its 30th anniversary in China next year. Taking the CIIE as an opportunity, Roche has comprehensively showcased its brilliant journey of resonating with China’s development, along with its original commitment to harnessing innovation for the benefit of patients and its confidence and promise to collaborate with all parties in leading a healthier future. Celebrating three decades of brilliance, setting sail once more to write a new chapter. In the future, Roche will continue to leverage the momentum of the CIIE, further invest in China, and accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge innovations to benefit Chinese patients more quickly. At the same time, Roche will actively partner with the government, medical institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other collaborators through impactful and sustainable initiatives to create a healthier and brighter future for patients in China.