Anna Van Acker, President of MSD China: Advancing Healthy China Initiative and Bringing More Innovative Products to Market

The bond between MSD and China stems from a widely celebrated story.

In 1989, MSD transferred to China the then world's most advanced genetically engineered recombinant hepatitis B vaccine technology. Furthermore, as part of the transfer agreement, MSD committed to waiving all patent royalties and forgoing any profits, and agreed not to sell MSD-manufactured hepatitis B vaccines in mainland China.

Today, more than 30 years later, the incidence of hepatitis B infection in China has shown a significant downward trend. China’s achievements in hepatitis B prevention stand as one of the most significant public health accomplishments of the 21st century. Reflecting on the past, the generous contributions of this multinational pharmaceutical company continue to be widely celebrated to this day.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of MSD's global founding, and next year will commemorate the 30th anniversary of MSD China. Reflecting on its 30-year journey in China, MSD has consistently upheld its mission to "save lives and improve the quality of life for patients." Meanwhile, MSD has actively supported the "Healthy China" initiative, helping China address public health challenges.

On November 5, 2021, the 4th China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE") officially opened in Shanghai. At this CIIE, MSD spared no effort, fully showcasing its current innovative medicines and vaccines, along with its development pipeline, across a 1,000-square-meter exhibition booth.

What new products and services is MSD showcasing this time? How do they differ from last year? After 30 years in China, what is MSD China's current development strategy, and which key sectors and directions will it prioritize in the future? On the eve of the CIIE, Ms. Anna Tian, Global Senior Vice President and President of MSD China, granted an exclusive interview to Sina Medicine to address these questions.

Ms. Anna Tian, Global Senior Vice President, MSD, and President, MSD China

COVID-19 Oral Medications, Vaccines, Oncology Products, and More to Be Fully Showcased

At this CIIE booth, MSD will center on the theme “Enhancing Lives — For Patients, For Health,” highlighting innovative solutions across oncology, vaccines, diabetes, and anti-infectives—particularly for COVID-19—as well as animal health. The exhibition will showcase MSD’s 130-year contributions to advancing human and animal health, underscoring its original aspiration and steadfast resolve to deepen its presence in China and support the Healthy China initiative.

MSD’s key products on display will focus on the vaccine and oncology sectors; meanwhile, the latest research data and development updates on MSD’s investigational oral COVID-19 drug, molnupiravir, will also be announced. Advocating the “One Health” concept that encompasses human, animal, and environmental well-being, MSD’s exhibition booth this year will feature additional innovative and intelligent solutions in the animal health sector, complementing its human health offerings.

It is particularly noteworthy that in 2021,On November 4, MSD/Ridgeback announced that the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved molnupiravir for use in the UK to treat adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progression to severe disease and hospitalization. Molnupiravir is the world's first approved oral antiviral medication for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults.Molnupiravir has also entered the expedited registration pathway in the United States, advancing to the review phase for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also initiated a rolling review of molnupiravir.

Recently, MSD announced that it will share its COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, with developing countries to expand access to this promising treatment. Meanwhile, MSD and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics stated that they have reached a landmark "royalty-free licensing agreement" with the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to share the drug with 105 low- and middle-income countries. This is the first MPP agreement to provide access to COVID-19 medical technologies. Under the agreement, MSD will not collect patent royalties from the sales of molnupiravir as long as the World Health Organization classifies COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

When discussing her experience participating in the CIIE, Anna Tian said, “The CIIE provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase MSD’s mission, our purpose, what we have accomplished in the past, how we operate today, and our vision for the future, including our commitment to patients in China, as reflected in MSD’s theme for this year: ‘Enhancing Lives – For Patients, For Health.’”

She stated that what MSD aims to showcase at the CIIE remains its patient-first values. This year, the company also hopes to highlight more of its digital solutions, including how innovative approaches can be leveraged to better deliver disease prevention and treatment. Meanwhile, the CIIE also serves as an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders to convene on a shared platform to consider and explore potential collaborations.

“Facilitating the entry of more innovative products into the Chinese market”

On June 1, 2021, Ms. Anna Tian officially assumed office as President of MSD China, following her tenure as President and Managing Director of MSD Canada. From 2012 to 2015, Ms. Tian served as Chief Marketing Officer for MSD China, overseeing market strategy and marketing operations across all product lines.

Upon returning to China, Anna Tian’s most profound reflection centers on the transformation of the business environment in the Chinese pharmaceutical market— “Compared with my previous experience, I feel that significant changes have taken place. First is the entire pharmaceutical ecosystem. China’s reform of the drug evaluation and approval system now enables us to bring innovative products needed by patients to China much faster. From 2017 to September 2021, MSD secured marketing approval for nearly 30 innovative drugs, vaccines, and new indications in China. Additionally, with initiatives such as the National Reimbursement Drug List and Volume-Based Procurement, the accessibility and market access for innovative products have been substantially improved. We are highly pleased to see this shift in the environment, as it empowers us to help more patients more quickly.”

Anna Tian noted that during this period, MSD launched two HPV vaccines to protect the health of women in China; in oncology, MSD offers cancer immunotherapies covering multiple high-incidence and hard-to-treat cancer types, providing a range of treatment solutions for previously untreatable conditions and addressing unmet medical needs; additionally, MSD has launched medications targeting type 2 diabetes... Across various therapeutic areas, MSD continues to deliver innovative health solutions.

Currently, China has become one of MSD’s most important global markets. Last year, MSD announced four new growth pillars, with the Chinese market being one of them. To further drive development in the Chinese market, MSD China has established its headquarters in Shanghai, an R&D center in Beijing, and a manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, achieving a fully integrated tri-engine model that unifies R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations.

Since the transfer of hepatitis B vaccine technology to China in 1989, MSD's relationship with the country has spanned over 30 years. Anna Tian stated, “For us, it is not merely about business expansion and workforce growth in the Chinese market; fulfilling our corporate social responsibility remains an unwavering commitment. This is exemplified by initiatives such as the ‘China-MSD Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project (C-MAP)’ from 2005 to 2016, and the ‘MSD for Mothers’ initiative, a large-scale global philanthropic program introduced to China in 2019 aimed at improving maternal health.”

“Whether through existing products across our therapeutic areas, innovative medicines and vaccines slated for introduction to China in the future, or our series of corporate social responsibility initiatives,” Anna Tian said, “we hope to do our utmost to actively contribute to the development of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ initiative.”

Innovation Is Our Foundation, Proactively Responding to Changes in the Chinese Market

With the advancement of policies such as centralized volume-based procurement and national medical insurance negotiations, along with accelerated approvals by the NMPA, an increasing number of innovative foreign products are able to enter the Chinese market more rapidly. However, alongside these opportunities lie challenges. In recent years, a growing number of multinational pharmaceutical companies have been optimizing their product portfolios and focusing on their core business lines to actively adapt to the evolving Chinese market. What, then, is the strategic direction for MSD China?

Anna Tian stated that MSD’s future strategic direction remains focused on playing a pivotal role in China’s overall pharmaceutical ecosystem. MSD aspires to become a trusted partner for all stakeholders, while continuously deepening its expertise in specialized and differentiated areas. The company is committed to consistently optimizing patient outcomes, improving accessibility, and helping China build an innovative, leading, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem.

Under the normalized implementation of policies such as volume-based procurement and medical insurance, how multinational pharmaceutical companies can maintain steady growth has also drawn significant attention within the industry. Regarding this, Anna Tian stated, “MSD is a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company, so for us, innovation must be the cornerstone of our operations. While MSD’s medicines and vaccines may each be at different stages of their lifecycles, what matters most is to bring the innovative products needed by Chinese patients to China.”

She pointed out, "What we value most is our commitment to researching, developing, and providing our innovative medicines targeting the most severe, life-threatening diseases or therapeutic areas that currently lack treatments."

In terms of marketing strategy, MSD has also made dynamic and flexible adjustments. Anna Tian noted, “Since the onset of the pandemic, societal awareness of personal health and public healthcare has significantly increased. This necessitates greater collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, encompassing both multinational and domestic enterprises. We must consider how to work with all stakeholders to deliver optimal health solutions for patients. China is a vast country with diverse regional conditions, making it a highly complex market.” Across China, numerous unmet medical needs persist and continue to grow, thereby creating opportunities for all parties to play their respective roles.

To help more Chinese patients access high-quality treatment options, MSD is also actively exploring ways to improve the accessibility of high-quality innovative medicines to meet the therapeutic needs for key diseases in China. In reducing patients' financial burden and enhancing drug accessibility, MSD has collaborated with commercial insurance providers. As of September 30, 2021, 82 "Huimin Bao" schemes in China have included all or partial indications of MSD’s PD-1 inhibitor in their reimbursable drug catalogs. In the field of immuno-oncology, MSD also operates corresponding patient assistance programs and other initiatives. MSD will continue to work alongside the government and local partners to explore diversified solutions, further improving the accessibility and affordability of high-quality medicines to better benefit the Chinese public and patients.

Oncology, vaccines, rare diseases, and other fields are key development priorities.

Regarding future strategic priorities, Anna Tian noted that MSD will continue to deepen its focus on oncology and vaccines, while also increasing its investment in the rare disease sector.

“The clinical program we are currently conducting can be described as the largest clinical research initiative in the field of cancer immunotherapy worldwide,” she noted. Globally, MSD is conducting approximately 1,600 clinical trials across 30 cancer types, with over 60 projects in China covering 18 cancer indications, including liver, gastric, and esophageal cancers—cancers with a high incidence in China. Meanwhile, within MSD’s broad and diverse global R&D pipeline, there are more than 20 investigational oncology products. “Whether globally or in China, cancer immunotherapy remains one of our key focuses. We are also evaluating a wider range of therapeutic approaches, such as combination and novel therapies. Therefore, the development of cancer immunotherapy is inherently a large-scale endeavor, and we anticipate more results and deliverables in the future,” she stated.

Beyond oncology, MSD maintains a robust pipeline across other therapeutic areas, including vaccines, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and anti-infectives. MSD continues to advance its development pipeline in these fields to address currently unmet medical needs.

Over the nearly 30 years since entering China, MSD has successively launched multiple vaccines, including those for HPV, rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis A, delivering comprehensive health protection across the life cycle to the Chinese population across all age groups. Moving forward, MSD will continue to expand the approved indications for its existing products, including vaccines. Specifically, multiple post-marketing clinical trials are currently underway and planned for the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. These include studies evaluating a two-dose immunization regimen for females and clinical research targeting the male population, aimed at supporting indication expansions to safeguard the health of a broader segment of the Chinese population. Additionally, post-marketing clinical trials for the rotavirus vaccine are planned among infants in China to prevent severe rotavirus-associated diarrhea, thereby offering more comprehensive protection for babies. MSD looks forward to introducing more innovative vaccine products to China, contributing to the establishment of a prevention-oriented disease prevention and control system, and supporting the realization of the "Healthy China 2030" strategic goals.

Furthermore, MSD is actively expanding into the rare disease space, aiming to drive sustainable growth through scientific breakthroughs while further strengthening and balancing our pipeline. Recently, MSD acquired Acceleron, a company dedicated to rare disease therapeutics. Its lead candidate, Sotatercept, features an innovative mechanism of action and holds the potential to improve short- and/or long-term clinical outcomes for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Currently, Sotatercept is undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials as a complement to standard-of-care therapy for PAH. Looking ahead, this drug will complement and strengthen MSD’s growing cardiovascular portfolio and pipeline, with the potential to uphold MSD’s proud legacy in the cardiovascular field and provide patients with more treatment options.

“When it comes to unmet medical needs and diseases with no current treatment options, rare diseases are undoubtedly a critical area with significant unmet needs, as many patients face a hopeless reality with no available therapies. Our company mission is to ‘save lives and improve quality of life.’ While certain indications in oncology and cardiovascular medicine may be relatively rare, they actually account for only a small proportion of the patient population. Through the acquisition of a company focused on rare diseases, we have taken a solid step forward in treating more rare conditions,” said Anna Tian.