Boston Scientific and Omron Healthcare Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Atrial Fibrillation Education and Stroke Prevention in China

Focusing on Atrial Fibrillation Disease Education and Treatment, Joining Hands to Bridge the "Last Mile" of Patient Education

ShanghaiNovember 8, 2022/PR Newswire/ -- Recently,Boston Scientific, a global leading medical technology company(NYSE: BSX) Boston Scientific Corporation and Omron Healthcare (China) Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation意向书at the Fifth China International Import Expo. The two parties will carry out in-depth cooperation in the field of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease management, fully integrating their product and resource advantages, with a patient-centric focus on continuous innovation to promote comprehensive services for patients with atrial fibrillation.

The number of atrial fibrillation patients in China is increasing year by year. According to the latest data, there are nearly 20 million atrial fibrillation patients in China, accounting for about one-fifth of the global total.^[1]The stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation is five times higher than that of the general population.^[2], as high as 20-30%. Compared with strokes caused by other reasons, strokes caused by atrial fibrillation are characterized by "high disability rate, high mortality rate, and high recurrence rate," acting as a "time bomb" for patients, causing significant economic and emotional losses to both patients and their families.

Boston Scientific has long been committed to bringing efficient and appropriate minimally invasive solutions to patients in China, benefiting more patients with atrial fibrillation. To help prevent strokes in more Chinese atrial fibrillation patients, Boston Scientific has partnered with Omron Healthcare (China) Co., Ltd. Leveraging Omron's offline network of health convenience stores and large user base, the collaboration aims to further promote public awareness and treatment of atrial fibrillation in China, working together to address the "last mile" of patient education.

"Innovating for life is the mission that Boston Scientific has consistently upheld. We are committed to bringing innovative medical solutions to more patients and significantly improving their lives," said Hu Bin, Sales and Marketing Director of Boston Scientific's Structural Heart Division. "The issue of stroke is not only a medical problem but also a societal one. We have adopted the most rigorous global training system for operators, introduced the left atrial appendage closure procedure, and through cooperation with all parties, we are spreading awareness about the disease and popularizing the therapy across broader social levels to help benefit more patients with atrial fibrillation."

Zhao Yao, Director and General Manager of Omron Healthcare (China) Co., Ltd., also expressed high recognition, stating, "The 'Healthy China 2030' initiative emphasizes the continuous promotion of healthy living and the optimization of health services. As a company with years of deep involvement in the chronic disease field, this is also our unshirkable responsibility. The growing demand for out-of-hospital disease management among patients, along with clinicians' desire to manage patients more efficiently outside the hospital setting, makes me look forward to the collaboration between both parties. I anticipate that it will integrate resources and establish an all-scenario service, contributing to the realization of the 'Healthy China 2030' vision."

Boston Scientific and Omron Healthcare (China) Co., Ltd. have actively promoted the implementation of a cooperative pilot program, hosting the first offline atrial fibrillation awareness and free clinic event on September 2 this year at a hospital-side store in Kunming, Yunnan. Director Fan Jie's team from the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province attended to provide medical consultation. Among the nearly 40 participants, three suspected atrial fibrillation patients were identified and received follow-up outpatient services. In the future, both parties will further deepen their cooperation to continuously promote the awareness and treatment of atrial fibrillation, helping more Chinese atrial fibrillation patients prevent strokes earlier and more efficiently.

About Omron Healthcare

Omron Healthcare is a health and medical company that integrates research and development, design, production, sales, and service. It has built a health management platform based on information and communication technology, transforming the social healthcare system with technology. In 2021, the global cumulative sales of Omron home blood pressure monitors exceeded 300 million units, driving the company to further challenge its vision of "achieving zero cardiovascular events." Adhering to the new corporate philosophy of "Preventive healthcare makes the world healthier," Omron Healthcare will continue to innovate and explore tirelessly, contributing to the healthy living of every person on Earth.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific Corporation is committed to innovation for life. We are dedicated to innovative medical solutions that improve the lives of patients around the world. For more than four decades, Boston Scientific has been at the forefront of the global medical technology industry, providing a wide range of high-performance medical solutions to meet the critical treatment needs of many patients and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visit the company's website:www.bostonscientific.cn

About Boston Scientific Greater China

Boston Scientific established its China headquarters in Shanghai in 1997 and currently has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Taipei. The company's core business areas cover cardiac intervention, structural heart disease, cardiac rhythm management and electrophysiology, endoscopic intervention, peripheral and tumor intervention, urology and pelvic floor health, respiratory products, and more. Upholding the tradition of being an innovation leader, Boston Scientific is committed to becoming a medical technology company that meets the needs of doctors and patients, demonstrates innovative vitality, and commands respect by providing high-quality medical products and services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. For more detailed information, please visit the company’s website:www.bostonscientific.cn

^[1] Prevalence and risk of atrial fibrillation in China: A national cross-sectional epidemiological study Shaobo Shi, Yanhong Tang et al.The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific.  VOLUME 23, 100439, JUNE 01, 2022

^[2] Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update: 2009 Update Circulation 1-27-09; AHA Statistical Update: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2008 Update