AstraZeneca Focuses on Unmet Needs in Chronic and Rare Diseases, Driving Global Innovation to Reshape Patient Lives

ShanghaiOctober 23, 2023PR Newswire -- Following the successful "AstraZeneca China R&D Day -- Committed to Conquering Cancer" held earlier this year, the first-ever chronic disease and rare disease-focused "AstraZeneca China R&D Day -- Transforming Patients' Life Trajectories" event was held in Shanghai from October 19 to 22. Industry leaders from Chinese research institutions, clinical research centers, and biotech innovation companies gathered with AstraZeneca's global R&D team to discuss and envision how to advance cutting-edge pharmaceutical research to benefit patients with chronic and rare diseases. With the full support of Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s Global Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, and Gianluca Pirozzi, AstraZeneca’s Global Senior Vice President and Head of Rare Disease Clinical Development, nearly twenty leaders and top scientists from AstraZeneca’s global early- and late-stage R&D and business development teams participated in this R&D Day event. They exchanged insights on the progress and innovative breakthroughs in chronic and rare disease research with top experts and scholars in China, demonstrating AstraZeneca’s commitment to scientific innovation in China and its dedication to benefiting patients worldwide.

AstraZeneca Exchanges with Experts and Scholars on R&D Progress and Innovative Breakthroughs in Chronic and Rare Diseases

Dr. He Jing, Senior Vice President of Global R&D at AstraZeneca and Head of the Global R&D China Center, stated: "In the fields of chronic diseases and rare diseases, AstraZeneca has a very solid R&D foundation, outstanding scientific achievements, and a strong pipeline. We are leveraging the power of science to develop new therapies to help chronic disease patients lead better and healthier lives, while continuously exploring treatment methods for rare diseases. The AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center is also deepening cooperation with various parties in the pharmaceutical R&D ecosystem across multiple fields through different platforms and multi-dimensional exchanges. We are seeking further collaboration opportunities in basic disease science, cutting-edge technologies, translational medicine research, clinical practice, and Chinese innovation going global. Since its inception in 2022, the AstraZeneca China R&D Day event has become our most important platform for communication and collaboration with the outside world."

Dr. He Jing, Senior Vice President of Global R&D at AstraZeneca and Head of the Global R&D China Center

With Global Scientific and Technological Strength, Accelerate the Unmet Needs of Slow and Rare Diseases

As an innovation-driven and R&D-backed leading multinational pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca continues to pioneer in the fields of chronic diseases and rare diseases, addressing unmet patient needs. With a forward-looking, extensive, and meticulous layout across multiple specialized areas such as cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, respiratory, autoimmune, infectious diseases, rare diseases, immunotherapy, and vaccines, AstraZeneca leverages the advantages of cutting-edge therapies like precision medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy. The company consistently accelerates the availability of effective and safe innovative treatments for a wide range of patients with chronic and rare diseases, enhancing patient health outcomes through comprehensive chronic disease management. It also remains committed to tackling unresolved diseases and the plight of patients with "no available treatment," providing advanced therapeutic solutions without neglecting innovation due to the "rare" nature of certain conditions.

"AstraZeneca is harnessing the power of scientific innovation to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and reshape patients' life journeys. We believe collaboration is essential for scientific advancement, and AstraZeneca's partnerships with China’s innovation ecosystem will benefit patients in China and around the world. As the 'Healthy China' initiative progresses and China places greater emphasis on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, we look forward to building stronger partnerships with China’s science and technology innovation community, particularly in areas such as cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), autoimmune diseases, cell therapy, and vaccine development," explained Sharon Barr, Head of Global BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.

Gianluca Pirozzi, Head of Rare Disease Drug Clinical Development at AstraZeneca, stated: "AstraZeneca regards rare disease patients and their healthcare providers as the core of our work. With China's large population base, the need for medication among rare disease patients is extremely urgent. We look forward to exchanging ideas and exploring collaboration opportunities with Chinese industry partners to jointly optimize R&D, drive change, bring more visibility to rare diseases, and work together to provide treatment options for more rare disease patients."

AstraZeneca’s global R&D pipeline for chronic diseases, rare diseases, and oncology has maintained resilient growth, with over 170 projects currently in clinical development, including 14 new molecular entities in late-stage clinical trials. The AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center is deeply involved in the company’s global new drug development, fully connecting to the global R&D innovation network. Currently, the key projects in China’s R&D pipeline have achieved a 100% synchronization rate with global R&D, with early-stage projects accounting for 20%. AstraZeneca also plans to introduce at least 15 innovative drugs within five years, securing approvals for 80 new drugs and indications, many of which are in the fields of rare diseases and chronic conditions, aiming to benefit more patients in China.

Joining Hands with Chinese Strength to Empower Global Innovation and Benefit Patients Worldwide

After 30 years of deep engagement in China, AstraZeneca has been actively expanding its "circle of friends" in medical science and innovation, promoting the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and medicine. By leveraging the dual advantages of independent research and external collaboration, the company aims to make Chinese innovation more efficient and widely beneficial for patients in China and around the world. In recent years, AstraZeneca Global R&D (China) Co., Ltd. has focused on the clinical needs in key areas such as chronic diseases and rare diseases, collaborating with universities and research institutions in China on translational clinical research. This fosters the development of basic science and talent cultivation in China while building a globally leading platform for scientific exchange, further harnessing the R&D capabilities of Chinese institutions and scientists. Through initiatives like the establishment of the "AstraZeneca China Translational Medicine Research Fund," the introduction of AstraZeneca's global open innovation platform CoSolve program, and the creation of the "AstraZeneca R&D China Postdoctoral Fellowship" project, AstraZeneca is connecting China and the global pharmaceutical R&D community across multiple dimensions. The company is committed to exporting breakthroughs in China’s basic science, cutting-edge technologies, innovative drugs, and novel disease solutions worldwide, accelerating global new drug development, and realizing the vision of "In China, For Global."

Dr. He Jing further emphasized that both globally and in China, there is a significant and unmet medical need for chronic and rare diseases. In China, whether it is the government's attention and policy support for these disease areas, or the investment by research institutes, clinical institutions, and biotech innovators in pharmaceutical R&D and innovative technologies, is growing day by day. "We are delighted to see the strong rise of China’s scientific research and innovation capabilities on the international stage; AstraZeneca also firmly believes that China will be the next source of global innovation. In the future, we will continue to seize the 'China opportunity' through the 'AstraZeneca China R&D Day' and other channels, unlocking the enormous potential of the healthcare ecosystem with multiple partners, empowering global R&D with further Chinese innovation, and working together to 'reshape the trajectory of patients’ lives.'"