Roche Shines at CIIE for the Third Time, Illuminating a Healthier Future with Innovation

Shanghai, November 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Roche Group, with its two core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, made another appearance at the Third China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE"), showcasing its innovative products in major disease areas such as oncology immunotherapy, influenza, hematologic malignancies, and rare diseases. This marks Roche's third consecutive year participating in the CIIE, fully demonstrating Roche's emphasis on the Chinese market, as well as its determination and commitment to promoting innovation and development in China's pharmaceutical industry.

Roche Innovative Drug Launch Event at the 2020 CIIE

At this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), Roche’s booth has been newly upgraded to a dual-booth setup spanning 950 square meters, comprising an 800-square-meter main booth and a 150-square-meter public health and epidemic prevention booth. Under the theme “Integrating Diagnosis and Treatment – Innovation Illuminates the Future,” the main booth showcases the blossoming “flower of innovation,” symbolizing the collaborative synergy between Roche Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Roche comprehensively presents innovative products and whole-disease-management case studies covering the entire lifecycle—from disease prevention, precise diagnosis and treatment, to disease management—demonstrating its commitment to leading personalized medicine. By tailoring integrated diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for Chinese patients, Roche aims to build a patient-centric healthcare ecosystem and contribute to the realization of the grand blueprint for “Healthy China 2030.”

Roche Booth at the 2020 CIIE

“The China International Import Expo (CIIE) serves as a platform and window for China’s higher-level opening-up. Despite the still-severe global pandemic situation, the on-schedule holding of this year’s CIIE demonstrates China’s responsibility as a major country and the Chinese government’s determination to continuously advance high-level opening-up,” said Zhou Hong, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals China, who attended the event in person. “This move has also injected confidence into the development of foreign-funded enterprises in China. For three consecutive years, Roche has leveraged the excellent platform of the CIIE to introduce multiple innovative products to the Chinese market at the earliest opportunity, accelerating benefits for Chinese patients. In the future, Roche will continue to strengthen its layout in the Chinese market, practicing its commitment of ‘Based in China, Serving China.’”’long-term commitment to addressing the unmet needs of patients in China.”

Address by Zhou Hong, President of Roche China

Leveraging the high-level open platform of the China International Import Expo, Roche Pharmaceuticals China showcased multiple groundbreaking innovative products on-site, extending health and well-being benefits to more patients in China.

In the field of immuno-oncology, Roche has once again achieved a new breakthrough. The immunotherapy combination regimen of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) plus bevacizumab for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma is the first innovative therapy in over a decade to reduce the risk of death in patients. It is also the world’s first and currently only approved first-line immunotherapy combination for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This treatment regimen was recently approved in China just before the China International Import Expo, bringing a new therapeutic option to the vast number of liver cancer patients in the country.

As the flu season arrives, Roche has unveiled its next-generation anti-influenza medication, Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil tablets), in the highly scrutinized field of influenza treatment, offering a novel and effective solution. Xofluza is currently the first and only single-dose oral drug approved for the treatment of influenza, and it is the first anti-influenza medication with an innovative mechanism of action approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It acts rapidly, effectively suppressing the influenza virus within 24 hours after a single oral dose, significantly reducing the duration of flu symptoms. Recently, Xofluza was included in the public list of urgently needed overseas new drugs released by the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration, and it is expected to become available in China soon.

In the field of hematologic malignancies, Roche has introduced two innovative drugs that hold the promise of raising the five-year survival rate for lymphoma patients in China to levels comparable to those in developed Western countries. Gazyva (obinutuzumab), the first glycoengineered type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, was the first drug to receive FDA approval under the Breakthrough Therapy designation. Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin) is the first antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CD79b. In both the United States and the European Union, Polivy has been granted orphan drug status for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and it can significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients.

In addition, Roche launched two innovative drugs in the field of rare diseases. Among them, Evrysdi (Risdiplam) is the world’s first orally administered innovative therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare disease, which systemically increases functional SMN protein. Enspryng (Satralizumab) targets the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor and modulates multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) by blocking IL-6 signaling, thereby suppressing disease relapses and helping patients avoid severe disabilities such as blindness and paralysis caused by frequent recurrences.

As a vice-chair unit of the Public Health Special Committee at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), Roche showcased its industry-leading products and technologies in response to epidemic challenges in the Public Health and Epidemic Prevention Zone, including the novel influenza drug Xofluza, Actemra, Tamiflu, and Rocephin, thereby promoting the optimization and innovation of public health security defenses. Notably, Actemra (tocilizumab) was included by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China in the “Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 7).” Recently, Actemra’s Phase III clinical trial met its primary endpoint. The study results demonstrated that Actemra can reduce the likelihood of severe COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation (use of ventilators). During the pandemic, Roche took immediate action, cumulatively donating drugs, supplies, and cash worth over RMB 28 million to support the government and healthcare institutions at all levels in the joint fight against the novel coronavirus.

“Acting in Response to Patients’ Needs First””In line with its mission, Roche will celebrate its 125th anniversary globally, having deepened its presence in China for 26 years. Leveraging the momentum of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), Roche will continue to strengthen its strategic layout in the Chinese market, collaborating with stakeholders across society to build an industry-leading innovative healthcare ecosystem and fulfill its commitment.“Based in China, Serving China”long-term commitment.

Note: The innovative drugs and their indications mentioned in this article that have not yet been officially approved in the Chinese market are for reference only. Please follow the advice or guidance of healthcare professionals.