Chiesi and Bayer Announce Strategic Collaboration to Co-Promote Respiratory Medicines Polyana® and Qiluchang® in China

Shanghai, July 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chiesi Farmaceutici and Bayer today announced that they have reached an agreement regarding the respiratory medication Breo^®Heqichang^®Reached a cooperation agreement to jointly promote these two mature Chiesi products in China. Chiesi Farmaceutici is an international pharmaceutical group (Chiesi Group) with R&D as its cornerstone. This collaboration aims to effectively integrate both parties’ expertise and resources in commercial operations in China, better helping the vast number of Chinese patients suffering from respiratory diseases to access the treatment solutions they need.

Chronic respiratory diseases are among the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in China. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most common conditions, with a high level of unmet therapeutic needs among patients in China. National epidemiological studies indicate that more than 45.7 million adults in China are estimated to have asthma, yet only approximately 5.6% receive appropriate treatment.¹Meanwhile, nearly 100 million Chinese people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), accounting for 8.6% of the national adult population.²

Davide Dalle Fusine, General Manager of Chiesi Pharmaceutical Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., stated, “As a global leader with an 85-year history and expertise in respiratory therapy, Chiesi has always been committed to caring for and improving patients’ quality of life. Through this new partnership with Bayer, we will further expand product accessibility to benefit more patients in China. We are delighted to join forces with Bayer to make greater contributions to the management of chronic respiratory diseases.”

To address the severe challenges posed to public health by the high prevalence of chronic diseases, the Chinese government explicitly listed chronic respiratory diseases, along with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes, as key disease areas of focus in the "Healthy China Action Plan (2019–2030)."

Jiang Wei, Global Executive Vice President of Bayer AG’s Prescription Drugs Division and President of China and Asia-Pacific, as well as President of Greater China at Bayer AG, stated: “Bayer has always fully supported‘In alignment with the “Healthy China” strategy, we strive to leverage our strengths in the pharmaceutical sector and pool multi-party expertise through collaborations to advance chronic disease management in China. This collaboration with Chiesi will expand our work into a broader spectrum of respiratory diseases, helping more patients benefit from Chiesi’s therapeutic solutions. Bayer is committed to translating innovative collaborations into meaningful solutions for patients, and partnering with outstanding allies like Chiesi represents a key initiative in this strategic endeavor.”

In China, Polirea (beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation suspension) has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of asthma and improvement of bronchial obstruction symptoms in adults and children. Qierchang (beclomethasone/formoterol inhalation aerosol) is approved in China for the regular treatment of asthma in adults. Qierchang utilizes Chiesi’s proprietary Modulite^®Jet technology releases active ingredients in the form of ultrafine particles, ensuring more uniform distribution of the drug in the lungs and enabling the use of lower doses of corticosteroids.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chiesi and Bayer will collaborate in China to jointly promote Polaria and Qierchang.

Bayer’s Prescription Drug Business Development Team facilitated this collaboration.