AstraZeneca Deepens Engagement at Boao Forum 2022, Showcasing Global Pandemic Collaboration and Healthcare Innovation

Discuss Global Anti-Epidemic Cooperation, Boost China's Medical Innovation 

BoaoApril 22, 2022/PR Newswire/ -- The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 was successfully held in Boao, Hainan from April 20 to 22. As an old friend of this important international forum, the multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca once again participated deeply in multiple agenda items, discussing global anti-epidemic cooperation and promoting China's medical innovation. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca was invited to host a sub-forum on the theme of "International Cooperation and Anti-Epidemic under the New Epidemic Situation," bringing together several important government representatives, industry leaders, experts and scholars, and industrial elites from home and abroad for in-depth exchanges, jointly exploring how to carry out all-round, whole-industry chain, and diversified cooperation to help overcome the epidemic and promote common development. Since acquiring Alexion Pharmaceuticals in 2021 to enter the rare disease field, AstraZeneca has fully unveiled its latest layout in China’s rare disease sector at the Boao Forum exhibition booth. During the forum, AstraZeneca also reached multiple partnerships with cross-border partners.ImportantStrategic cooperation covers the co-construction of rare disease diagnosis and treatment, regional innovation industry incubation, and traditional Chinese medicine innovation. This not only upgrades the innovation ecosystem once again but also injects new momentum into China's healthcare innovation and industrial transformation. Leif Johansson, Chairman of AstraZeneca, and Leon Wang, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca Global, President of International Business and China, were invited to attend and share their views on global epidemic prevention, digital economy, and international cooperation.

Deeply Share Global Experience, International Cooperation for a Healthy Future

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant challenges to global health and economic development. The theme of this year's Boao Forum is "Epidemics and the World: Promoting Global Development Together, Building a Shared Future." As a member of the Boao Asia Forum Advisory Committee, AstraZeneca Chairman Leif Johansson participated in the event on the 20th."Narrowing the 'Immune Gap', Sharing Health Benefits"Sub-forum, shared and discussed global anti-epidemic experiences with representatives from all sectors, as well as how to continuously bring health benefits to people around the world through science and innovation amidst the pandemic.

AstraZeneca Chairman Leif Johansson Participates in the Sub-Forum "Narrowing the 'Immunity Gap' for Shared Health and Well-being"

He stated, "To consolidate the achievements of humanity's fight against the pandemic and share health benefits, it is imperative for countries around the world to ensure timely and equitable access to and distribution of vaccines. AstraZeneca is committed to collaborating with all parties to bridge the 'vaccine gap' and accelerate the exchange of global anti-pandemic experiences and scientific research through digital means. This will enhance the accessibility of integrated diagnosis and treatment solutions both online and offline, earnestly fulfilling corporate social responsibility and jointly providing solutions to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic."

He pointed out that, as a responsible corporate citizen, AstraZeneca has been actively involved at the forefront of global pandemic response efforts, continuously fulfilling its mission as a multinational pharmaceutical company and making significant practical efforts to narrow the "immunization gap." As of the first quarter of 2022, AstraZeneca had supplied more than 2.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 180 countries worldwide, with approximately two-thirds going to low-income countries and regions. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has actively collaborated with Chinese companies. Wuxi Biologics, one of the major vaccine suppliers, produced about 50% of the active ingredients for AstraZeneca's vaccine supply to the global COVAX initiative as of 2021. AstraZeneca also transferred vaccine technology royalty-free to Kangtai Bio, which, as of 2021, had supplied nearly 30 million doses of vaccines to various parts of the world, including Indonesia. Additionally, AstraZeneca’s antibody combination drug Evusheld has received emergency use authorization in the United States and was recently approved in the European Union and the UK for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19, with efforts underway to introduce it in China.

On the 21st, "Digital Economy: Thriving Towards the Sun"At the thematic sub-forum, Leif Johansson stated that the digital economy has accelerated its development during the pandemic, becoming a key force in reorganizing global factor resources, reshaping the global economic structure, and changing the global competitive landscape. China has made remarkable achievements in developing the digital economy. The application of digital technologies such as 5G, big data, and artificial intelligence has significantly improved the quality of medical services and accessibility to diagnosis and treatment, enhancing patients' quality of life. By strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, these experiences and successes will undoubtedly bring strong growth momentum to the global economy."

During the forum, Leon Wang, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca Global, President of International Business and China, also attended several important events. At the China-Europe Entrepreneurs Dialogue on the 22nd, he highly praised China's role in promoting long-term close economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe. He stated that in the face of multiple challenges in the post-pandemic era, all parties should inherit and carry forward the ideas and spirit of the Boao Forum, transcend industries and national boundaries, utilize highly complementary development advantages and long-accumulated cooperative foundations, seek common ground while reserving differences, tap greater potential for the development of China-Europe relations, provide stronger momentum, and achieve win-win cooperation. Huang Bin, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of Corporate Affairs and Market Access, was invited to participate in the entrepreneurs' symposium.。

Global Experts Gather, Cross-Border Exchange Builds Consensus on Fighting the Pandemic

As the global pandemic enters its third year, promoting post-pandemic economic recovery and advancing multilateral cooperation have become important topics of concern across all sectors. On April 21, AstraZeneca was invited to host "International Cooperation and Anti-Epidemic Efforts in the New Situation of the Pandemic"Sub-forum, gathering participants from home and abroadMultiple guests, including Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health H. E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey CONCEPCION from the Philippines, Assistant to the Egyptian Minister of Health for Public Health Mohamed Hassany, Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases Medicine Zhang Wenhong, Head of the Working Group on Vaccine Research and Development under the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council Zheng Zhongwei, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation of the National Medical Products Administration Liu Jingqi, President of Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Miao Xiang, etc., jointly discussed how to unite efforts to build a shield for people's health with technological power and safeguard human health and well-being.

Leo Wang, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca Global and President of International Business & China, stated, "Since the pandemic...ViolenceSince the outbreak, we have witnessed tremendous efforts made across all fields, including the medical industry, in combating the pandemic. As the pandemic is still ongoing, with the world's destinies intertwined, I firmly believe that the collaboration among research institutions, enterprises, and governments worldwide will add 'acceleration' to humanity’s fight against the virus. We hope to leverage the cross-border international exchange and cooperation platform of Boao to build consensus, boost confidence, and achieve constructive follow-up cooperation plans, forming a powerful international anti-pandemic 'ecosystem' to help the world fully emerge from the pandemic.

As a multinational pharmaceutical company that has been active on the frontlines of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, AstraZeneca has always adhered to a "cooperation without borders" approach, closely collaborating with its partners in China to ensure the accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines and preventive medicines. According to Wang Lei, the Hainan Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone is a pioneer zone for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and one of the pioneer zones for the application of real-world data in mainland China. AstraZeneca hopes to build on previous collaborations to further contribute positively to China’s fight against the pandemic.

"We will actively cooperate with the Administration of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan to assist in the early implementation of the pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab in Hainan, contributing to the fight against the pandemic in China and globally," said Wang Lei.

MultipleImportantCooperation Achieved, Continuously Empowering High-Quality Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Leveraging the important platform of Boao, AstraZeneca also deepened cooperation with local governments and other entities, signing a series of significant investment and cooperation projects on-site aimed at promoting pharmaceutical innovation in China and regional economic development. This demonstrates AstraZeneca's continued commitment to building an open and collaborative healthcare innovation ecosystem, as well as its determination and promise as a multinational enterprise to deeply cultivate the Chinese market.

AstraZeneca Partners with Qingdao Municipal Government to Sign Memorandum of Cooperation, Jointly Establishing a Leading Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center in China. The project will leverage relevant policy support and promote integrated rare disease diagnosis, treatment, and whole-course management through government-enterprise collaboration, fully integrating local resources in Qingdao with AstraZeneca's multinational resources to form an innovative ecosystem for rare disease diagnosis and treatment ranging from research to medical services.Helping Qingdao Build a High Ground for Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in ChinaAt the Boao Forum this year, AstraZeneca set up a dedicated booth area to comprehensively showcase its global R&D layout in the rare disease field, as well as China's rare disease business efforts to promote the global synchronized R&D of innovative drugs and treatment solutions, accelerating patient access.

In addition, AstraZeneca's Southern China Regional Headquarters, leveraging Guangzhou's nationally leading medical resources, industrial clustering, and the innovative incubation advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has reached an agreement with Guangzhou International Bio Island Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Guangzhou High-tech Zone Group. They will focus on the theme of precision diagnostics to jointly build the International Life Science Innovation Park (iCampus)."Base"+Fund "Industry Ecosystem: Comprehensive Creation of a Leading One-Stop Incubation and Acceleration Industry Hub in the Greater Bay Area"。

AstraZeneca's Western China Regional Headquarters has partnered with Chengdu High-Tech Zone to leverage Sichuan's local industrial strengths.Innovative Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM Innovation iCampus）Guided by the requirements of the "14th Five-Year Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine Development" recently issued by the General Office of the State Council, the park will focus on the modernization of the TCM industry. Relying on the leadership of academician experts in scientific research transformation and industrial development, it aims to build a one-stop TCM incubation and industrial empowerment platform in Western China. AstraZeneca will leverage its international platform and resources to collaborate with partners from the government, industry, academia, research, medical, and investment sectors. It will assist the incubation center's industry in achieving domestic transformation in China and moving towards internationalization, promoting high-quality development of TCM and contributing to Healthy China.

AstraZeneca also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Gongshu District Government of Hangzhou to jointly buildHangzhou International Life Science Innovation Incubation PlatformiCampusBuilding on the foundation of the iCampus 1.0, an innovation park characterized by digital healthcare, the two parties will upgrade and deepen it into iCampus 2.0, led by academician experts and themed around digital healthcare and cancer treatment. This initiative aims to further construct a highly specialized, thematic, and distinct life sciences innovation ecosystem focused on specific disease areas, establishing a regional highland for the medical and health industry and boosting regional economic development.

Wang Lei stated that comprehensive, multi-level cooperation is an important way to promote innovation and transformation in the pharmaceuticals industry. As a multinational pharmaceutical company rooted in China, AstraZeneca has the responsibility to take the lead in collaborating with cross-sector partners to build a multi-level health innovation ecosystem, drive regional economic development, balance "bringing in" and "going global," play a bridging role, support China's goal of achieving high-quality development, help the Chinese pharmaceuticals industry create new international competitive advantages and reach higher levels, and provide strong support to lead the global innovation network and industrial system.

Wang Lei spoke highly of the successful hosting of this year's Boao Forum. He pointed out: "During this special period when the pandemic is still spreading globally, the fact that the Boao Forum has been held as scheduled demonstrates China's firm determination and responsibility to continuously expand reform and opening-up and promote international economic exchange and interaction. AstraZeneca is greatly honored to deeply participate in this year’s annual meeting, offering advice and proposals for China and global cooperation in fighting the pandemic, economic development, and more. In the future, AstraZeneca will continue to shoulder its mission, support the global fight against the pandemic, adhere to win-win cooperation and open innovation, and contribute to the early realization of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ goals."

*Statement:

The products and indications involved in this article have not been approved in mainland China, and AstraZeneca does not recommend the use of any unapproved drugs.

This material is for media reference at the 2022 Boao Forum for Asia only and is not to be used for other purposes.