Ferring and Jianke Launch China's Leading Internet-Based IBD Specialty Center to Advance Chronic Disease Management and Research

On May 11, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned that the Internet Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialty Center, jointly established by Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Jianke, was officially inaugurated in Guangzhou. Professor Wu Xiaoping, a professor in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Deputy Leader of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialist Group under the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, was appointed as the Director of the Jianke Internet Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialty Center. Together, they aim to explore the use of internet technologies to provide more convenient and efficient services to patients with inflammatory bowel disease across China.

It is understood that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic, non-specific intestinal inflammatory disorders with etiologies that are not yet fully elucidated, encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Over the past three decades, the incidence of IBD in China has shown a continuous upward trend. According to domestic literature, the number of cases in the last five years is eight times that of the same period in the 1990s, and it has gradually become a common condition in gastroenterology departments. IBD is prone to recurrent episodes and is associated with various complications. It predominantly affects young and middle-aged adults, imposing a significant burden on society and families.

Xie Fangmin, CEO of Jianke, stated that as a chronic disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires a prolonged treatment course, with maintenance therapy原则上 lasting three to five years or even longer; therefore, long-term disease management is particularly crucial. Leveraging its robust internet healthcare technology and advanced chronic disease management services, Jianke is committed to collaborating with gastroenterology experts across China to establish a standardized academic platform. Together, they aim to explore research and treatment strategies for IBD, which also represents the original intention behind the co-establishment of the Internet Hospital’s IBD Specialty Center.

It is reported that the center currently has 200 registered physicians. Jianke plans to continue its investment, with an expected rollout of over 300 IBD specialists, establishing a nationwide diagnosis and treatment network. The goal is to become China’s largest online IBD diagnosis and treatment platform, serving 1.5 million IBD patients.

As a multinational pharmaceutical company with years of deep engagement in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) field, Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ brand Pentasa is the leading mesalazine brand in Europe. Fei Jia, Chief Commercial Officer of Ferring, stated that internet healthcare represents the future of the medical and health industry. As a multinational pharmaceutical company deeply rooted in specialized therapeutic areas, Ferring has always been committed to a patient-centric approach, providing professional solutions for both patients and physicians. Internet healthcare has significantly improved the accessibility of medical services. Ferring is also highly willing to collaborate with partners such as Jianke to strive for enhanced service quality. As one of the earliest pharmaceutical companies to participate in the internet healthcare sector, Ferring will work hand in hand with its partners to build a higher-quality internet healthcare ecosystem.

Professor Wu Xiaoping, who has been appointed as the Director of the IBD Center at Jianke Internet Hospital, brings over 20 years of clinical experience. He has conducted extensive research on the differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), achieving a domestically leading level in clinical diagnosis that has earned widespread acclaim from both the medical community and patients. The addition of Professor Wu’s team marks Jianke IBD Center’s rapid ascent to a leading position within the industry.

Professor Wu Xiaoping emphasized that Western countries, particularly in Europe and the United States, have been conducting research on this disease for many years, with both basic and clinical research being relatively advanced. As China has increased its attention to and emphasis on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), related basic and clinical research is also beginning to take off, but there is still a gap compared to European and American countries. He called on hospitals to participate more in multicenter studies, using multicenter clinical data to provide evidence for China's clinical research.

As an online platform dedicated to building a future one-stop “Internet + Healthcare” service ecosystem, Jianke boasts industry-leading chronic disease management capabilities and online follow-up consultation models. It provides comprehensive health education and online follow-up care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), promotes healthy lifestyles, and thereby enhances the quality of IBD management programs.

As the first B2C internet drug retailer legally operating in Guangdong Province, Jianke obtained the "Internet Drug Transaction Service Qualification Certificate" as early as 2009. It has since established strategic partnerships with thousands of large domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers, enabling direct drug supply. In June 2017, Jianke successfully obtained the "Class A Internet Drug Transaction Service Qualification Certificate" issued by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), making it one of the few enterprises in China to hold all three licenses: Class A, Class B, and Class C.

Having secured $130 million in Series B financing, Jianke is transitioning from a veteran internet pharmaceutical company driven solely by pharmaceutical e-commerce to a health management service platform powered by the dual engines of medical care and pharmaceuticals. Currently, Jianke Doctors has registered 100,000 physicians and served tens of millions of patients, with a focus on chronic disease management for conditions such as liver disease, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, and respiratory diseases. Over the next five years, online medical services will remain a key strategic priority for Jianke.