Novartis China and Radiometer Partner to Enhance Heart Failure Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care

SHANGHAI, June 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis China and Radiometer have signed a letter of intent for strategic cooperation. Novartis is a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, and Radiometer is a leader in critical care diagnostics. Both parties will engage in in-depth collaboration in the field of heart failure, fully leveraging their respective resources and expertise in disease screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management. This partnership aims to enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic capacity for heart failure at the primary care level and promote the development of primary healthcare services. The cooperation plan will cover primary hospitals in multiple cities in China, benefiting a broader population of heart failure patients in primary care settings.

Group Photo of the Signing Ceremony between Novartis China and Radiometer

Chen Hui, Vice President and Head of Commercial and Emerging Markets Business, Novartis Pharma (China)stated: “Novartis possesses innovative products and extensive experience in the management of chronic diseases such as heart failure. This collaboration with Radiometer represents another innovative initiative by Novartis in response to the national call to strengthen primary healthcare. By joining forces and leveraging complementary strengths, we aim to improve the diagnostic and treatment standards and disease management capabilities for heart failure at the primary care level, enabling patients to access higher-quality, comprehensive, and standardized medical services close to home, thereby enhancing patient well-being. Looking ahead, we also look forward to partnering with more leading enterprises in the industry to advance the realization of the 'Healthy China 2030' strategy.”

Early Intervention and Prevention Winning the Final Battle Against Cardiovascular Disease

There are over 10 million patients with heart failure in China. Heart failure is the end-stage of various cardiovascular diseases, with hypertension and coronary heart disease being the two most significant risk factors. Data indicate that the mortality rate of heart failure is comparable to that of cancer, with approximately 50% of heart failure patients in China dying within five years of diagnosis.^[1]，[2]. Furthermore, heart failure remains the leading cause of hospitalization. In China, patients are hospitalized an average of 2.4 times per year, with approximately 69% experiencing readmission within one year, and the average annual length of hospital stay reaching up to 22 days.^[3]，[4], imposing a heavy economic burden on patients, families, society, and the government.

Heart failure remains irreversible, with a focus on early identification and intervention. Currently, the clinical diagnosis of heart failure commonly relies on cardiac biomarker testing and echocardiography. Screening high-risk populations enables the early detection of pathological changes and timely intervention, which can effectively delay disease progression and improve patient prognosis. This approach holds significant importance for the prevention and management of heart failure.

Professor Jin Wei, Department of Cardiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicinestated: "For a long time, community hospitals have faced challenges in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart failure, including a shortage of specialized screening and diagnostic equipment, insufficient clinical competence among physicians in heart failure treatment, and inadequate patient awareness regarding long-term disease management. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a standardized system for heart failure prevention and clinical management, which entails establishing multidisciplinary teams from the top down, strengthening guideline-directed assessment and treatment of heart failure; enhancing collaboration between community hospitals and tertiary hospitals, and implementing a tiered diagnosis and treatment system with a two-way referral model; and maintaining a community-centered regional database of heart failure patients to strengthen long-term follow-up and disease management."

Strategic Partnership Leveraging Complementary Strengths: Multi-Pronged Initiatives to Advance Standardized Management of Heart Failure in Primary Care

Through this collaboration, Novartis and Radiometer will join forces to leverage their respective strengths, effectively extending advanced diagnostic and therapeutic expertise and testing equipment to the primary care level. Under the leadership and coordination of a third-party academic exchange platform, Novartis and Radiometer will facilitate clinical services at the grassroots level by over 100 heart failure and echocardiography experts from Grade IIIA hospitals. These experts will provide high-risk and diagnosed heart failure patients with guidance on disease prevention, self-care, and injury prevention. Additionally, they will conduct clinical mentoring and support initiatives at the primary care level, sharing new experiences, practices, and concepts to strengthen the capacity building of grassroots heart failure physicians. Committed to the joint efforts of the third-party academic exchange platform, Novartis, Radiometer, Grade IIIA hospital experts, and primary care physicians, this initiative aims to establish an integrated heart failure patient management program encompassing screening, diagnosis and treatment, and follow-up management. This will comprehensively elevate the quality and standards of heart failure management in grassroots communities, consolidate and refine the new operational mechanisms of the tiered healthcare system, and ultimately contribute to the overall improvement of heart failure prevention and treatment at the primary care level in China.

Jing Weihong, General Manager, Radiometer Greater Chinastated: “As a globally leading medical technology company, Radiometer remains committed to delivering diagnostic products and solutions with high clinical value to assist healthcare professionals in making effective diagnostic decisions. We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with Novartis. In this collaboration, Radiometer will provide advanced immunoassay analyzers. By delivering rapid and accurate test results, we will provide a reliable basis for the differential diagnosis and diagnosis of heart failure at the primary care level, contributing to the enhancement of overall primary healthcare capabilities.”

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[About Novartis]

Novartis is dedicated to reimagining the future of medicine to improve people's quality of life and extend human life. As a leading global pharmaceutical company, we leverage innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of significant medical need. In our pursuit of new medicines, we remain committed to relentless innovation, with R&D investment consistently ranking at the forefront of the global industry. Nearly 800 million patients worldwide benefit from Novartis products. Meanwhile, we continuously explore innovative approaches to make our novel therapies accessible to more patients. Novartis employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide, representing more than 140 nationalities. For more information, please visit the Novartis global website:https://www.novartis.com。

[About Novartis China]

Novartis has a history in China spanning over 135 years. The company’s Chinese name signifies a “Commitment to China,” reflecting its dedication to improving the health and quality of life of the Chinese people through continuously innovative products and services. Since 1987, more than 80 Novartis innovative medicines have been approved in China. Novartis’s operations in China encompass Novartis Pharma (China), Novartis Oncology (China), and Sandoz (China). The company operates two major manufacturing facilities in Beijing and Guangdong, and has established R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. Novartis employs approximately 9,000 people in China. For more information, please visit the Novartis China website:http://www.novartis.com.cn。

【About Radiometer】

Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Radiometer has been a pioneer in critical care testing for over 60 years. With a customer-centric approach and a commitment to continuous innovation and improvement, the company consistently advances global healthcare standards. As a leader in the critical care diagnostics sector, Radiometer remains dedicated to providing technologically advanced solutions for every stage of acute care testing. Its comprehensive portfolio encompasses immunoassays for cardiac, coagulation, infection, and pregnancy markers, as well as blood gas analysis and transcutaneous monitoring. By delivering reliable, rapid, and convenient diagnostic results, Radiometer empowers healthcare professionals to make informed clinical decisions. Its products are widely utilized across multiple clinical departments, including ICUs, emergency departments, cardiology, operating rooms, anesthesiology, and respiratory care. These solutions not only assist clinical staff in optimizing patient flow management but also further enhance diagnostic efficiency for patient care.

Radiometer China was established in 2005, with offices set up in multiple locations including Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, and staff stationed in major cities across China. Currently, Radiometer provides services to nearly 5,000 hospitals in China, ranging from Grade III Class A hospitals to primary healthcare centers, with its business covering the entire Chinese region, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

[1] Xu Y, et al. ExpTher Med. 2013 Dec;6(6):1437-1442.

[2] Zeng H, et al. Int J Cancer. 2015 Apr 15;136(8):1921-30.

[3] Huang et al. J of Medical Economics20:5, 549-553, DOI:10.1080/13696998.2017.1297309

[4] Cowie, M. R., Anker, S. D., Cleland, J. G. F., et al. 2014. Improving care for patients with acute heart failure Before, during and after hospitalization