Europe and China – working together in pharma
High profile delegates from Europe’s pharma giants have just made a timely visit to China, where GSK has recently dominated industry headlines. Notably, the visitors attended a conference workshop called “Transparency and Good Governance”, which was organised together with the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.
EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) has a good track record for working alongside Chinese pharma groups, and has an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding with the major Chinese pharma association. The EFPIA-organised visit, the first of its kind, was an attempt to “establish a better understanding of the numerous healthcare reforms underway in China, share European experiences, and explore closer paths of cooperation in global drug development between China and Europe.”
Towards innovation
Dr. Stefan Oschmann, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Pharma, Merck, said: “China’s commitments to reform healthcare and further develop a stronger biopharmaceutical sector go hand in hand. To improve patient access to high-quality healthcare and to become a truly global innovator, China should continue to work towards creating an environment that supports innovation. A collaborative exchange of ideas, as promoted by international visits like this one, is a step in the right direction. ”
The delegation was led by Sanofi CEO, Chris Viehbacher, and the tour also included a conference on methods for implementing translational medicine on a global scale – a key focus for the healthcare sector in China, where communication is still under tight control.
Viehbacher said: “EFPIA is committed to fostering productive relations with China, where a growing life sciences sector is paving the way for the country to become an increasingly influential player in drug development. The research-based pharmaceutical industry is a global industry, and this visit marks an important milestone in fostering understanding between international health care leaders and promoting awareness about the advancements taking place in China’s life sciences sector.”
Roch Doliveux, CEO UCB, added: “Innovative pharmaceutical companies operate at global level and aim to serve patients around the world. With a visit to Beijing we recognise the importance of China in the global life science world and encourage to connect all actors involved in the value creation for patients.”