AstraZeneca and Omron Announce Global Strategic Collaboration to Co-Develop Integrated Care Solutions for Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Metabolic Diseases

On November 11, 2019, biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced in Shanghai that it had entered into a long-term, comprehensive global strategic partnership with Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd., and signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation. The two parties will jointly develop disease management solutions in the fields of respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders for patients. This marks AstraZeneca’s first global strategic collaboration with a medical device company.

To meet patients’ demand for whole-journey medical services, AstraZeneca has joined forces with cross-industry partners to explore and develop an integrated diagnosis-and-treatment solution for whole-journey disease management, providing patients with convenient, efficient, end-to-end healthcare services throughout the entire care continuum. Currently, the global burden of diseases in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic fields is increasing day by day. Leveraging science and technology to enhance patients’ overall healthcare experience, improve people’s livelihoods, and build a harmonious and prosperous society is the shared vision of AstraZeneca and Omron. This global strategic partnership between AstraZeneca and Omron will build upon their complementary strengths in disease expertise, innovative solution development, and global expert networks. By collaborating closely with pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic therapeutic areas, the partnership will drive R&D innovation and establish a global ecosystem covering the entire patient journey for respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.

Previously, the two parties had established a solid foundation for cooperation in the field of respiratory and metabolic diseases. This included jointly supporting the establishment of National Standardized Metabolic Disease Management Centers for Chinese patients with diabetes, which have been set up in nearly 685 hospitals across China, covering 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government. They also collaborated to establish pediatric nebulization rooms in China for the treatment of acute asthma in children, a model that has been extended to Belt and Road Initiative countries. In the future, the two parties will expand their collaboration from commercial partnerships to R&D cooperation, and extend the scope of their partnership from China to the global stage.

These collaborations include: strengthening R&D cooperation in the fields of respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases to address unmet medical needs of patients; leveraging emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to continuously develop innovative whole-disease-management solutions; and, empowered by innovative technologies, further expanding patient access to innovative solutions to improve the healthcare experience and quality of life for more patients.

In China, the two parties will build on their previous successful collaboration to jointly establish an Internet of Things (IoT) Research Institute. This institute will focus on developing next-generation smart devices, such as intelligent remote stethoscopes, to create more scientific and intelligent management models for children with asthma, while effectively improving patient accessibility to these smart devices. Meanwhile, the parties will further explore the application of new technologies in the rapid diagnosis of patients with chest pain, thereby supporting the development of Chest Pain Centers in China and accelerating the construction of National Standardized Metabolic Disease Management Centers. In retail pharmacies, they will continue to collaborate on exploring disruptive models for traditional drug displays and establishing Patient Home Experience Centers, delivering convenient health services to a broad patient population.

Wang Lei, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca and President of International Business and China, stated: “We are delighted to further deepen our long-term, comprehensive global strategic partnership with Omron, thereby benefiting patients in more regions around the world. With the support and collaboration of global experts, we plan to work hand in hand with Omron to facilitate whole-disease-course management—from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation—in our focused therapeutic areas, ultimately bringing greater benefits to a broad patient population.”

In response, Isao Ogino, President and CEO of Omron, stated, “We believe that this collaboration with AstraZeneca will mark a significant step toward realizing Omron’s vision of ‘Zero Asthma’ in its respiratory disease business. Leveraging scientific and technological advancements, and building on our continued strong partnership with AstraZeneca, we are committed to developing more high-value solutions that span the entire spectrum from diagnosis and treatment to daily disease management.”

In recent years, AstraZeneca has been actively exploring and continuously innovating in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) sector, promoting innovative medical practices beyond China’s borders to benefit patients worldwide. Simultaneously, it seeks to attract outstanding global partners into China, pooling global wisdom to conduct R&D collaboration and commercial innovation. We believe this partnership will open the door to multi-dimensional innovative cooperation between AstraZeneca and cross-industry partners, delivering more meaningful innovative outcomes for patients in China and around the world.