(Yicai Global) Oct. 23 -- AstraZeneca will report on the latest progress regarding its Covid-19 vaccine, co-developed with Oxford University, at the 3rd China International Import Expo next month, the president of the British pharmaceutical giant’s China operations said.
Phase III clinical trials around the world have resumed, despite the recent set-back in Brazil, and the vaccine is on course to be approved sometime next year, said Leon Wang, who is also executive vice president of AstraZeneca's international division.
The vaccine technology has already been transferred for free to Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products, the Chinese partner responsible for producing the Covid-19 vaccine on the mainland, he added.
The Cambridge-based drugmaker has donated funds, medicines and medical supplies to support China in its fight against Covid-19, he said.
AstraZeneca has attended the CIIE in Shanghai for three years running. This year it has expanded its exhibition area to 1,000 square meters, making it one of the biggest exhibitors in the medical apparatus and healthcare exhibition area.
“As a leading global biopharmaceutical company, we will take advantage of this excellent communication and exhibition platform to showcase our latest achievements and innovative ideas that connect global wisdom to China's opportunities, as well as our strong faith to continue to invest in China and to live up to our unchanging commitment of 'in China, for China,'” Wang said.
For the first time, AstraZeneca will introduce its new lay out in China, made up of its China headquarters in Shanghai and five regional headquarters.
It will present the latest progress at its Shanghai-based global research and development center and a number of its “AI + healthcare” application scenarios in the oncological, respiratory and gastrointestinal fields developed by its Healthcare AI Open Innovation Lab.
The Wuxi central region headquarters will introduce six new solutions in oncology, respiratory medicine, nephrology, community-level healthcare and retail.
The Beijing northern region headquarters will present a grassroots health hut and a simulated mobile screening vehicle which aim to benefit tens of millions of rural patients in China with early screening and diagnosis.
The Bio-Diagnostics Innovation Center in Guangzhou will display AstraZeneca's advances in the field of oncology diagnostics.
Its Hangzhou base will introduce clinics and smart pharmacies of the future that leverage the city’s e-commerce, new retail, mobile healthcare and internet advantages.
Its Chengdu center will have a focus on AstraZeneca’s innovative work in combining both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
At the previous CIIEs, AstraZeneca brought a number of drugs urgently needed by Chinese patients, including Fluimucil, a medicine that relieves chest congestion in patients with respiratory diseases, Roxadustat, for the treatment of anemia secondary to chronic kidney diseases, and Linzess, a drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.
So far, 14 of the holistic disease management solutions that AstraZeneca presented at these two expos have been used in more than 4,300 hospitals nationwide, benefiting over 10 million Chinese patients.
Editor: Kim Taylor
