Janssen China and National Center for Infectious Diseases Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement to Build a Patient-Centric Anti-Infective Ecosystem

Shanghai, February 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Janssen China, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (relying on Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, referred to as the "National Center"), and Shanghai Huashen Microbiology and Infection Research Institute jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Cooperation (referred to as the "Memorandum"). All parties will carry out strategic cooperation in scientific research, technology development, industrial transformation, and academic exchange, aiming to promote the continuous development of the anti-infective field, improve public health standards, and contribute to the construction of "Healthy China 2030".

Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Cooperation

"The 14th Five-Year Plan" explicitly states that the focus of the healthcare system should shift towards the public health sector. As one of the core disease areas in public health, the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases play a significant role in enhancing China's public health standards. Professor Zhang Wenhong, Director of the National Center, stated, "Currently, the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases in China still face severe challenges. The signing of this memorandum will deepen the collaboration between the National Center and Janssen, and the outcomes of this cooperation will help improve clinicians' diagnostic capabilities, enhance the accessibility of innovative treatment options and drugs, and bring about continuous and effective patient management."

Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, Professor Zhang Wenhong's Speech

Alvin Zheng, President of Janssen China, said: "As a transformative innovative healthcare company and one of the earliest multinational pharmaceutical enterprises to deeply cultivate in China, Janssen China has always been actively promoting the deep integration and innovation of the industrial ecosystem to advance the development of public health. The signing of this memorandum will focus on integrated and comprehensive patient-centered diagnosis and treatment solutions, creating a win-win anti-infective ecosystem, which is another significant commitment to supporting public health in China."

Speech by Zheng Lei, President of Janssen China

According to the memorandum, Janssen China and the National Center will collaborate with multiple partners to build an integrated diagnosis and treatment platform centered on patients, covering the full path of disease discovery, diagnosis, and treatment. They aim to create a win-win ecosystem for anti-infective efforts, establishing a new pattern for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Taking multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) as an example, the patient-centered ecosystem will mobilize government agencies and various industry partners to establish comprehensive lifecycle management for MDR-TB screening, identification, referral, treatment, and follow-up. This will set up a standardized treatment system and referral mechanism for MDR-TB, bringing greater benefits to patients.

Dr. Zili Li, Global Vice President of R&D at Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Head of the Asia-Pacific R&D Center, Delivers a Speech

The construction of this anti-infective ecosystem will not only help patients achieve early diagnosis and treatment, and obtain optimized whole-course disease management, but also enhance the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of grassroots medical staff, promote the comprehensive development of the anti-infective discipline, increase opportunities for dialogue among all parties in the industry, facilitate diversified communication and cooperation in the anti-infective field, and drive the deep integration and innovation of the industrial ecosystem.

"Joining Forces to Create a New Pattern in Anti-Infective Prevention and Treatment" Thematic Discussion

In addition, Janssen will also negotiate and communicate with the national center on cooperation areas such as international early-stage research, innovative incubation, clinical research, and medical translation, exploring potential collaboration directions in fields like multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, hepatitis, respiratory syncytial virus, and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli infections.

As a witness and participant in the development and progress of China's public health undertakings, Xian Janssen has long been deeply engaged in the fields of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, hepatitis, AIDS, and other anti-infective diseases, accumulating rich practical experience. Guided by the public health strategic principles of policy orientation, partnership, and intelligence, Xian Janssen is committed to advocating for a positive policy environment, exploring innovative cooperation models to engage multiple partners, and utilizing intelligent platforms to enhance public disease awareness and cultivate talent in the medical field through digital education.