From November 5 to 10, the Fourth China International Import Expo (abbreviated as "CIIE") is accelerating multi-party connectivity and unleashing the "multiplier effect".
The highly anticipated "Medical Devices and Health Products Exhibition Zone" once again hosted leading healthcare enterprises from China and overseas this year. The zone was bustling with attendees, presenting a dazzling array of innovative solutions and witnessing a steady succession of major contract signings. Localization and collaboration have emerged as the defining keywords of this CIIE.
By leveraging localization, multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies can better expand and thrive in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, domestic enterprises will also gain strong new momentum to cultivate additional growth drivers. Through diversified collaborations with hospitals, government agencies, and other stakeholders, companies can continuously expand their partner ecosystems and facilitate more effective product commercialization. Deepening multi-level cooperation will ultimately foster win-win outcomes.
Localization Strategy of Multinational Giants
The Chinese market, maintaining its rapid growth, has become a growth engine for major multinational corporations. To align with policy, market, and other demands, localization has emerged as a high-frequency term for multinational enterprises at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE).
After its debut in China at the 2019 China International Import Expo (CIIE), Boston Scientific successfully signed a partnership with local partner Chengdu Nuoruite Medical in March 2021, marking its first step toward localized manufacturing and opening a new chapter in the company's strategic expansion in western China. In September this year, the first clinical procedure using TheraSphere Y90 in mainland China was successfully performed, becoming the first selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) procedure in mainland China.
Boston Scientific Booth
To enhance access to high-quality medical resources, Boston Scientific has launched its Western China Development Strategy, establishing a "second headquarters" in Chengdu, along with a Western China logistics center, an innovation center, and a production and R&D center.
Localization is both a key theme for Illumina’s participation in the CIIE and a significant chapter in Illumina China’s development journey. At this year’s expo, Illumina showcased the NovaSeqTM 6000Dx-CN technology prototype, the highest-throughput next-generation sequencing platform, which has already completed trial production in China. Looking ahead, Illumina plans to gradually advance the localized manufacturing of its products, including sequencing reagents and sequencers. Currently, the Illumina China production facility in Pudong, Shanghai, is under active preparation and is expected to commence production in the third quarter of next year. Looking ahead, Illumina plans to gradually advance the localized manufacturing of its products, including sequencing reagents and sequencers.
As an industry-leading enterprise, Illumina’s localization strategy is also dedicated to building a localized industry ecosystem rooted in China. In February this year, Illumina partnered with Sequoia China to establish the Sequoia China Smart Healthcare Genomics Incubator (Illumina Technology-Driven), to foster the development of early-stage startups in China’s genomics sector.
Having been in the Chinese market for 16 years, Alung Medical is now intensifying its strategic investments in China. Currently, Alung Medical is preparing its first manufacturing facility in the country, which is expected to be officially established in Weihai, Shandong Province within this year. Once operational, Alung Medical will first introduce its most critical product line for localized manufacturing, and gradually increase investments to subsequently roll out other products. In the future, Alung Medical plans to introduce its full new product portfolio to the Chinese market, and may also conduct clinical trials for select new products in China first to accelerate their regulatory approval and market access in the country.
“China is one of Ambu’s most important markets and will become the focal point for its global business expansion,” stated Shi Hua, Global Vice President and General Manager of China at Ambu.
Cross-Industry Partnerships Expand Further, Collaborative Innovation Replaces "Going It Alone"
According to relevant reports, the number of collaborations between domestic enterprises and multinational pharmaceutical companies in 2020 (exceeding 80), along with their scale and quality, reached unprecedented heights. The wave of collaboration between multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies continues, with partnerships at this China International Import Expo (CIIE) demonstrating a trend toward diversification and upstream-downstream synergy.
On November 6, Sanofi andJD HealthThe parties jointly announced the official launch of the "Center of Excellence for Diabetes Online Diagnosis and Treatment Service Management". Both sides will collaborate to accelerate the development of a digital healthcare ecosystem, ushering in a new era of one-stop digital health management. Following this CIIE, Sanofi will further upgrade its strategic partnership with JD Health to jointly advance standardized diagnosis and treatment protocols for diabetes. It is reported that the "Expert Consensus on Standardized Pathways for Online Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes" will be released next year.
Sanofi Representatives and JD Health Representatives Jointly Launch "Center of Excellence"
Collaboration between multinational pharmaceutical companies and domestic internet healthcare companies has become a prevailing trend, with both parties working in tandem to enhance digital health management. In addition to introducing new products at this China International Import Expo (CIIE), GSK also announced a partnership withBaiduSigned a memorandum of cooperation with JD Health, whereby both parties will leverage internet technologies to provide safe and appropriate healthcare services, actively explore innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence for disease education and the promotion of preventive awareness, and take herpes zoster prevention as a pilot initiative, while jointly raising awareness of herpes zoster among the middle-aged and elderly population.
Meanwhile, Pfizer entered into innovative strategic partnership agreements with Yuanxin Technology, Simpai Health Technology, Haodf, Infervision, and Beibeili, among others, and showcased a series of digital healthcare solutions. Encompassing full-cycle management across disease screening, diagnosis and treatment, medication accessibility, payment, follow-up, and disease education, these solutions provide innovative pathways to enhance the accessibility of professional medical services and address patients' diverse healthcare needs.
On the 8th, MSD China officially announced a partnership with LinkDoc Technology. The collaboration will establish a health management platform for patients with oncology and major diseases, empowering patients and the public through data-driven precision services; advance innovation in real-world data and artificial intelligence technologies to expand the application of digital technologies in drug R&D and clinical diagnosis and treatment; and co-build an innovative ecosystem for the digital transformation of the pharmaceutical industry, exploring effective synergy between clinical resources and innovative drug development.
In 2021, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the initial release of the draft human genome, China's biogenomics industry and Illumina ushered in a historic development opportunity. It is reported that during the Fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE), Illumina reached a series of strategic partnerships across multiple sub-sectors with industry, pharmaceutical, and hospital partners, including Beijing Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Sanofi, and Pfizer. Meanwhile, the company is expected to sign letters of intent for cooperation with over 30 Chinese genetic testing enterprises.
Furthermore, Sanofi and Illumina have entered into a strategic partnership agreement in the field of rare diseases to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, medical education, and training, jointly promote the establishment of rare disease diagnosis and treatment centers, and advance the development of precision medicine in rare diseases.
As AstraZeneca progressively transforms into a platform-based enterprise, its platform effects are now gradually becoming evident, breaking down the traditional boundaries between multinational pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.
At the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), AstraZeneca China and Siemens Healthineers China signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement, through which both parties will integrate premium resources to jointly develop an integrated, full-care-cycle physician training program in oncology. Concurrently, the “Oncology Academic Season” project, co-hosted by Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China, was officially launched. Meanwhile, the Huiyi Tianxia Internet Healthcare Platform, jointly supported by AstraZeneca and Hillhouse Ventures, has partnered with AbbVie to explore “Internet + Innovative Therapies” solutions across multiple disease areas, thereby enhancing the accessibility of innovative healthcare services.
With the advancement of various diagnostic and therapeutic concepts and technologies, oncology has entered an era of precision diagnosis and treatment and multidisciplinary comprehensive therapy, necessitating multi-stakeholder collaboration to meet patient needs. At this CIIE, Roche has formed strategic alliances with several domestic innovative enterprises, including MGI Cloudying, Hanwei Intelligent Healthcare, and Shanzhen, to jointly advance the development of a cancer prevention and control ecosystem centered on "early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment."
Meanwhile, in terms of treatment, to enhance patient access to innovative medicines, Roche Pharmaceuticals announced the official signing of a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum with the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, prioritizing research and the promotion of multiple initiatives strategically centered on personalized medicine within the Airport Area of the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, while jointly advancing several projects including the Institute of Personalized Medicine, a green channel for imported drugs in urgent clinical need, and a multi-tiered healthcare security system.
Among them, strategic partners have also further deepened their cooperation. On November 6, Boston Scientific and Frankman signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), whereby Frankman reached an agreement with Boston Scientific regarding the transfer of an ablation technology. As industry-leading medical technology companies both in China and globally, the two parties have, since forging their partnership in 2015, been consistently committed to cultivating a healthcare ecosystem that promotes collaborative innovation across industry, academia, and research, thereby accelerating the innovation and incubation of high-quality medical and technological breakthroughs.
Bayer Consumer Health and Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. have signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Both parties agreed to expand the breadth and depth of their existing collaboration and will further deepen cooperation in areas such as diversifying product portfolios, enhancing product accessibility, and conducting public education and awareness campaigns on self-care. This partnership aims to provide consumers with a broader range of self-care solutions to meet their diverse health needs.
Lecheng's Popularity Remains Strong: Six Agreements Signed in a Single Day
Benefiting from the policies of the *Regulations on the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone of the Hainan Free Trade Port*, the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone has consistently served as an "accelerator" in the eyes of numerous multinational enterprises for pharmaceuticals and medical devices to enter the Chinese market.
According to incomplete statistics, the Lecheng Pilot Zone has cumulatively signed agreements or held negotiations with 14 internationally renowned pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises, including Danaher, Novartis, AstraZeneca, GE HealthCare, Novo Nordisk, Bayer, and Danone Asia Pacific. On the 6th alone, it secured six signing agreements covering multinational healthcare companies such as AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Novartis, and GE HealthCare. The scope of cooperation has been further upgraded, expanding from merely accelerating the introduction of drugs and medical devices and supporting real-world data research to facilitating talent training and international exchanges. By leveraging real-world evidence to obtain information on drug efficacy and safety, it further assists regulatory authorities in their decision-making regarding drug evaluation and approval.
Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration and Novartis Renew Strategic Cooperation Memorandum
At the 4th China International Import Expo, Boao Yiling of the Lecheng Pilot Zone officially signed a project cooperation agreement for the “Edison Digital Eco-Hospital” with GE Healthcare. Leveraging 5G technology and building upon GE Healthcare’s Edison digital health intelligent platform and precision imaging equipment, the two parties will jointly establish a technical platform for remote control of scanning equipment and protocol standardization over the next three years, extending its coverage to the major branches of the Yiling Group to achieve the sharing of high-quality medical resources.
Focused on accelerating the introduction and implementation of global innovative products, advanced pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and diagnostic and treatment protocols in the Lecheng Pilot Zone, the Lecheng Pilot Zone Administration and Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. Both parties will comprehensively deepen cooperation in areas including the pilot implementation of innovative drugs and medical devices, academic exchanges, research and application of real-world clinical data, and innovative medical insurance payment models. In collaboration with Danaher Corporation, a globally renowned pharmaceutical and medical device enterprise, they jointly launched the "Hainan Lecheng – Mammotome Breast Tissue Biopsy Marker Real-World Data Research Project". This initiative aims to further deepen cooperation and achieve mutually beneficial development.
Additionally, the Administration of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone and Bayer signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation. Both parties aim to fully leverage their respective advantages in preferential policies, medical resources, and global industry networks to advance comprehensive and in-depth cooperation in the diabetes sector.
Among the signatory companies, "familiar faces" such as Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Danaher Corporation returned once again, continuously expanding their cooperation with the Lecheng Pilot Zone.
Novartis's collaboration with the Lecheng Pilot Zone dates back to August 2018, when the zone successfully introduced Novartis's strategic product, secukinumab, upon its establishment. Real-world data studies were subsequently conducted to accelerate the product's regulatory approval and market launch.
This time, Novartis has once again signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, aiming to pioneer new collaborations and practices in translational medicine and real-world research. The initiative will foster talent development and international exchange, leverage real-world evidence to gather data on drug efficacy and safety, and thereby assist regulatory authorities in making informed decisions on drug review and approval, ultimately accelerating the marketing authorization of more Novartis innovative medicines in China. This year, three of Novartis's blockbuster innovative drugs have been granted pilot early access in the Lecheng Pilot Zone.
Existing cooperation continues to deepen, with the Lecheng Pilot Zone Administration once again partnering with AstraZeneca China to jointly advance the accelerated introduction of innovative oncology and rare disease drugs, and to conduct research on the development model of internet hospitals in China. Additionally, AstraZeneca signed the "Strategic Cooperation Agreement on the Pilot and Early Access of Innovative Drugs for Rare Diseases" with Lecheng. Using the early access of Selumetinib—the world’s first targeted therapy for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)—in Hainan as a pilot project, the partnership aims to further optimize its strategic layout in the rare disease sector.
Many partnerships between the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone and numerous internationally renowned pharmaceutical and medical device companies were initiated at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Through collaboration with Boao Lecheng, Boston Scientific’s Rezūm water vapor thermal therapy system for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has successfully treated approximately 50 patients and was pre-launched at this edition of the CIIE.
Lyu Xiaolei, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Lecheng Pilot Zone Administration, stated: "The Lecheng Pilot Zone has consistently served as a pioneering area guided by pilot initiatives and reform and opening-up, as well as a resource-sharing platform within the healthcare ecosystem. Every market entity involved in the healthcare sector, including pharmaceutical and medical device companies, healthcare service providers, and commercial insurers, can leverage this open platform in Lecheng to seek opportunities for collaboration."