Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment in China

Original Title: Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China Reach Strategic Partnership Source: PR Newswire

Original Title: Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China Reach Strategic Partnership

Siemens Healthineers Ltd. and AstraZeneca Investment (China) Co., Ltd. Have Officially Signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement. The Two Parties Will Leverage Their Respective Strengths in Drug Development and Medical Devices to Conduct Medical Research Collaborations, Assist Authoritative Associations in the Development, Pilot Implementation, and Promotion of Diagnosis and Treatment Protocols, and Jointly Commit to Accelerating the Clinical Adoption of New Technologies and Innovative Drugs in China.

WUXI, China, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Healthineers Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Siemens Healthineers China") and AstraZeneca Investment (China) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "AstraZeneca China") have recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will leverage their respective strengths in pharmaceutical development and medical devices to carry out medical research collaborations, assist authoritative associations in the development, pilot implementation, and promotion of diagnosis and treatment protocols, and jointly commit to accelerating the clinical adoption of new technologies and innovative drugs in China, thereby providing high-quality and standardized medical services to clinical patients in the country. Through this collaboration, Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China will further promote the implementation and adoption of early diagnosis and early treatment in China, fundamentally alleviating patient suffering and enhancing patient experience.

According to the “Opinions of the State Council on Implementing the Healthy China Action,” the disease burden attributable to chronic diseases, represented by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer (malignant tumors), chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, accounts for more than 70% of the total disease burden1. Among these, cancer, known as the “king of all diseases,” poses a severe threat to public health: currently, there are approximately 3.8 million new cancer cases and about 2.29 million cancer-related deaths annually in China, with both incidence and mortality rates showing a year-on-year upward trend. Cancer has become the leading cause of death in urban areas and the second leading cause of death in rural areas2. Therefore, curbing the rise in cancer incidence and mortality is an urgent priority. Advocating active cancer prevention and promoting early screening, early diagnosis, and early treatment are among the effective measures to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, and can further improve patients’ quality of life1.

In active response to the Healthy China 2030 initiative, Siemens Healthineers China and AstraZeneca China are committed to leveraging their respective strengths in medical devices and pharmaceutical development to provide high-quality, standardized medical services to clinical patients in China. Under the cooperation agreement, to assist Chinese healthcare institutions, particularly primary care hospitals, in adopting and refining integrated diagnosis and treatment solutions for diseases, both parties will engage in a series of clinical and research collaborations. These include mobile CT lung cancer screening, as well as prostate and breast cancer screening programs. Together, they aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors and various chronic diseases in China, promote early detection and early intervention, and enhance patients’ quality of life.

AstraZeneca Global ExecutiveWang Lei, Vice President and President of International Business and China, stated, “As an innovation-driven global biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca remains dedicated to the exploration, research and development, and commercialization of innovative medicines and integrated diagnosis-and-treatment solutions for comprehensive disease management, accelerating efforts to meet the growing health needs of the Chinese people. This collaboration with Siemens Healthineers China is a significant step in advancing the development of integrated diagnosis and treatment in China, and serves as one of the best examples of implementing the ‘Healthy China 2030’ initiative. Looking ahead, AstraZeneca will continue to focus on disease areas with the most urgent needs in China. Leveraging our in-depth insights into diseases and the needs of patients and healthcare providers, along with our professional expertise, we will actively support authoritative associations in developing ‘patient-centric’ integrated diagnosis-and-treatment solutions, ensuring that high-quality, standardized medical services benefit more patients at the earliest opportunity.”

“As medical science and technology advance at a rapid pace, the integration of diagnosis and treatment in China is accelerating. As a global leader in medical technology, Siemens Healthineers is a long-term partner in the transformation and development of China’s healthcare industry, consistently committed to enhancing the quality, accessibility, and continuity of healthcare services in the country. Through this collaboration with AstraZeneca China, Siemens Healthineers will leverage its mature technologies and extensive expertise in medical imaging, in vitro diagnostics, and digitalization to provide appropriate diagnostic tools for integrated diagnosis-and-treatment solutions endorsed by authoritative associations. This initiative aims to support AstraZeneca in accelerating the clinical adoption of innovative drugs and technologies in China, thereby contributing technological innovation to the early realization of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ vision.”Siemens HealthineersWang Hao, President of Greater China, stated.