JD Health Deepens Collaboration with Multinational Pharma at CIIE to Advance Digital Transformation in Healthcare
From November 5 to 10, the 4th China International Import Expo was successfully held in Shanghai. Notably, the scale of participating enterprises in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector reached a new high, with more than 500 renowned companies from the field making their appearance, demonstrating the vast development potential of China’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industry ecosystem.
Over the past two years, leveraging the platform and resources provided by the China International Import Expo (CIIE), JD Health has deepened its cooperation with numerous multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare corporations, drawing on its comprehensive layout in digital medical and health services. This collaboration has expanded to cover many areas, including digital pharmaceutical marketing, internet-based medical services, and health management. In this process, JD Health has worked hand in hand with its partners to create more favorable conditions for the transformation and upgrading of the entire pharmaceutical industry, while covering more scenarios and serving more users.
In fact, leveraging its strategic layout in the digital healthcare ecosystem, JD Health has joined forces with pharmaceutical brand partners to unlock broader development opportunities. For instance, during this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), the *White Paper on Digital Management of Diabetes in China 2021* (hereinafter referred to as the “White Paper”), guided and initiated by the Chinese Association of Geriatric Healthcare and Medicine, was officially released. Meanwhile, JD Health, in collaboration with the multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi, is promoting the standardized development of online diabetes management through digital solutions.
According to data from the White Paper, China currently has over 114 million adult diabetes patients, accounting for one-quarter of the global total, with a complication rate exceeding 60% among those who have had the disease for more than five years. However, due to poor health management awareness, low adherence to monitoring, and unclear glycemic control targets, many patients suffer from long-term distress caused by the disease. In response to this reality, JD Health and Sanofi have deepened their comprehensive collaboration.
Through their joint efforts, leveraging high-quality supply chain and pharmaceutical healthcare service capabilities, patients with diabetes can access one-stop specialized disease management services, including online consultations, digital payments, medication delivery, and patient education. JD Health’s extensive pool of qualified diabetes specialists, standardized online service protocols, and comprehensive diabetes management system will provide patients with stronger safeguards.
In response, Jin Enlin, CEO of JD Health, stated that as a health management enterprise with a comprehensive “Internet + Healthcare” ecosystem, JD Health works closely with internationally renowned pharmaceutical companies to provide consumers, patients, and users with globally leading health solutions. Building on their long-term collaboration in the field of diabetes, JD Health and Sanofi will continue to deepen their digital solutions for online diagnosis and treatment, improve drug accessibility and patient adherence, and better deliver full-lifecycle health management for patients with chronic diseases.
Currently, there are approximately 6,000 to 7,000 confirmed rare diseases worldwide, which commonly face challenges such as insufficient research investment, low diagnostic capabilities, inadequate treatment options, and poor drug accessibility. In China, more than 20 million people are affected by rare diseases. During this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), numerous international brands introduced new technologies and products, providing more effective support for the treatment and management of rare diseases. While striving to advance health management for common chronic diseases, JD Health has also been intensifying its efforts in the field of rare diseases, deepening its collaboration with Takeda China during the CIIE with a focus on this area.
During the China International Import Expo (CIIE), JD Health and Takeda China announced a partnership to officially launch Feizeyou® (icatibant acetate injection), a medication imported by Takeda China for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE), on JD Pharmacy. Building on this foundation, both parties will further strengthen their collaboration and exploration in “Internet+” innovative ecosystem management for rare diseases, jointly establishing an “Internet-Based Innovative Solution for Rare Diseases in China” to help address three major challenges faced by the rare disease community: difficulties in diagnosis and medical access, limited drug accessibility, and financial barriers to medication affordability.
It is reported that on October 30, 2021, Firazyr® (icatibant acetate injection), a therapeutic agent for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) introduced by Takeda China, officially became available to HAE patients in China. After being diagnosed by the Department of Allergy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, patients accessed the medication through JD Health’s integrated online-to-offline fulfillment services.
Following the deepened cooperation with Takeda China at this year’s CIIE, JD Health will leverage its integrated online-to-offline pharmaceutical fulfillment capabilities to further improve access to medications for rare diseases, providing patients with services such as remote specialist follow-up consultations and prescription renewals, online medication purchases, and home delivery.
In fact, ahead of International Rare Disease Day on February 28 this year, JD Health launched the “Rare Disease Care Initiative,” unveiled the “JD Pharmacy Rare Disease Care Center,” and partnered with public welfare organizations to establish the “JD Health Rare Disease Care Fund,” mobilizing resources from across society to build an integrated solution encompassing medical care, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and charitable support. Within less than a year, the initiative has already achieved phased results.
During this year’s JD Health Double 11 Shopping Festival, the gross merchandise value (GMV) of rare disease medications at JD Pharmacy increased by over 120% year-on-year. As of now, more than 23,000 patients with rare diseases have purchased rare disease medications and received corresponding medication services through JD Pharmacy over the past year. Meanwhile, JD Pharmacy’s self-operated cold-chain logistics network currently covers more than 200 cities, providing integrated fulfillment guarantees for special cold-chain medications, including those for rare diseases. Under the “JD Health Rare Disease Care Fund” project, JD Health, in collaboration with the Beijing Pain Challenge Foundation, carried out two rounds of assistance programs, cumulatively receiving 643 applications for aid. The beneficiaries spanned 24 provincial-level administrative regions across China, covering 21 different rare disease types.
Through its collaboration with JD Health, global pharmaceutical companies have not only delivered comprehensive products and services to patients in China but also achieved accelerated growth. In response to the needs of international pharmaceutical firms expanding into the Chinese market, JD Health actively leverages its capabilities and resources in digital marketing to build a “Digital Marketing Ecosystem.” By integrating systematic competencies across technology, logistics, and distribution channels, JD Health grows together with global pharmaceutical enterprises.
In fact, during last year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), JD Health entered into cooperation agreements with globally renowned pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Sanofi, and Abbott, joining forces to advance the development of a digital ecosystem in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Over the past year, JD Health has also established strategic partnerships or deepened existing collaborations with pharmaceutical firms including Novartis, Gilead Sciences, and Sanofi, continuously strengthening and expanding its efforts toward the industry’s digital transformation goals.
(At the 2nd China Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing Forum this year, executives from multiple multinational pharmaceutical companies participated in the “Industry Leaders’ Dialogue” roundtable.)
Just this past October, the “China Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing Forum,” initiated and hosted by JD Health, was held in Shanghai for the second consecutive year. Hundreds of guests from globally renowned pharmaceutical companies and across the pharmaceutical industry chain gathered to share insights and exchange views on hot topics in pharmaceutical digital marketing, including omnichannel layout, innovative marketing, patient management, and strategies to break through competitive barriers.
Currently, the transformation of digital marketing in the pharmaceutical industry has entered a critical phase. The integrated development of omnichannel marketing, private-domain patient management, innovative payment solutions, and academic marketing deserves particular attention. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical digital marketing is steadily evolving from the traditional “1.0 era” model toward a dual-core model centered on both physicians and patients. In this process, JD Health has already achieved nationwide equitable access to pharmaceutical and healthcare services through its core “One Pharmacy, One Hospital” service model, comprising JD Pharmacy and JD Health Internet Hospital. This infrastructure serves as a crucial foundation for JD Health’s provision of a comprehensive suite of digital pharmaceutical marketing services.
(Group photo from the “Awards Ceremony” at JD Health Pharmacy’s 5th Anniversary Brand Partner Conference this May)
Meanwhile, it is precisely on this basis that JD Pharmacy, under JD Health, has become a key partner for domestic and international pharmaceutical and health brands in expanding their omnichannel operations and achieving digital marketing. Public data shows that as of the first half of 2021, JD Pharmacy had established direct collaborations with over 92% of the global top 50 multinational pharmaceutical companies and 97% of China’s top 100 pharmaceutical enterprises, jointly enhancing the quality and experience of medication services while providing patients with simultaneous access to cutting-edge global treatment solutions.
Amid the critical period of digital and intelligent transformation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, Jin Enlin stated that JD Health will continue to collaborate with industry partners, focusing on cost, efficiency, and user experience. By deepening cooperation with global pharmaceutical and healthcare brands, JD Health aims to further strengthen and optimize its omni-channel pharmaceutical supply chain system across both online and offline platforms. Under this strategy, JD Health is continuously expanding its health product categories while maintaining strict quality control to earn greater consumer trust. Meanwhile, JD Health has gradually established an industry-leading supply chain network, which it opens to partners through componentized, productized, and ecosystem-based approaches, jointly accelerating the industry’s transformation and upgrading.