AstraZeneca and Zambon Announce a Strategic Partnership at CIIE
A Joint Effort to Further Benefit Chinese Patients
Agreement includes exclusive rights to import, distribute and promote Fluimucil® ampoules product in China
November 5, 2018, Shanghai, China - Today, AstraZeneca and Zambon announce a strategic partnership agreement at the 2018 China International Import Expo (CIIE). Zambon has granted to AstraZeneca the exclusive rights to import, distribute and promote Fluimucil® ampoules for inhalation in China (exclude HK, Macau and Taiwan), a medicine which treats respiratory disease.
As one of Zambon’s high-quality products, Fluimucil® ampoules for inhalation’s superior safety and tolerability has been proven by years of use in over 20 countries.
The agreement marks the beginning of a five-year partnership to fully utilize Zambon’s high quality product and AstraZeneca’s world class capabilities in market penetration and academic promotion.
Zambon is an Italian chemical-pharma Company with more than 100 years of “cure and care” legacy. For more than 15 years, Zambon carried on its reputation bringing high-quality drugs into China to address pain and respiratory issues, while investing in clinical trials to bring new therapies to Chinese patients and doctors. Fluimucil® ampoules is part of Zambon’s important respiratory portfolio.
AstraZeneca has improved the overall treatment level of respiratory diseases across China by systematically working with healthcare authorities to improve the lives of millions of patients with respiratory problems by supporting the establishment of nebulising stations and the usage of its leading inhaled respiratory products. Building on this expertise, Fluimucil® ampoules’s distribution will be expanded to more than 7,000 hospitals in China through which AstraZeneca expects to increase sales of Fluimucil® ampoules significantly.
Jo Feng, General Manager of AstraZeneca China said: "Rooted in China for 25 years, AstraZeneca has introduced 30 innovative medicines here, keeping the ‘patient-centric’ value at heart. This collaboration with Zambon demonstrates our commitment to Chinese patients as we seek to continuously introduce high quality medicines from around the world to China. As a result of this agreement we also hope to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations focussed on the life sciences and healthcare sectors between China and Italy.”
Andrea Paganelli, Global Head Industrial Business Operations and President of Zambon China said: "Our commitment to the Chinese doctors and patients increases year after year. Fluimucil® ampoules is a heritage drug for Zambon and the partnership with AstraZeneca will allow to expand the current distribution furthermore, while keeping the focus on the full Fluimucil® portfolio. We believe the increased accessibility of quality drugs such as Fluimucil® ampoules will bring new treatment options to more patients with respiratory diseases in China.”
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies Luigi Di Maio and official from Department of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry, Investment Promotion Agency of Ministry of Commerce, P.R.C. Di Maio and the official both fully affirmed that the collaboration will demonstrate the close relations between Italy and China in medical and health care.
As the world's first national EXPO focuses on importation, CIIE provides an open platform of exchange, display and collaboration for all countries and enterprises. The highly integrated and comprehensive innovation and China's opening-up and development has attracted the active participation of leading enterprises in all fields. AstraZeneca and Zambon fully grasped the opportunity to sign the strategic partnership agreement on CIIE and will work hand in hand to cover and benefit more respiratory patients in China.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in therapeutic areas including Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Respiratory. The Company is also selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
About AstraZeneca in China
Since entering China in 1993, AstraZeneca has been committed to meeting China’s increasing healthcare needs by continuously following the science and focusing on innovation, becoming China’s most trusted healthcare partner bringing forth innovative solutions to improve the lives of Chinese patients. AstraZeneca’s China headquarters are based in Shanghai, and we’ve established manufacturing sites in Wuxi and Taizhou, as well as a China Distribution Centre in Wuxi. In China, AstraZeneca focuses on therapeutic areas that local patients need most: respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, oncology, gastrointestinal and renal disease. In 2017, AstraZeneca China Commercial Innovation Centre was established in Wuxi, with the aim to explore innovative IoT-based integrated diagnosis and treatment solutions. In the same year, AstraZeneca cooperated with SDIC Fund in establishing Dizal Pharmaceutical to accelerate local development of innovative medicines for patients in China. In 2018, AstraZeneca ushers in its 25th Anniversary in China.
About Zambon
Zambon is an Italian multinational pharmaceutical and fine-chemical company that focuses on innovation and development with the aim to improve the quality of people’s health and patients’ lives. Based on a valuable heritage but strongly focused on the future, its goal is to improve people’s health through the development of innovative and quality medicines. Zambon products are commercialized in 86 countries. The company has 20 subsidiaries in three different Continents – Europe, America and Asia – and owns manufacturing units in Italy, Switzerland, France, China and Brazil.
The company today has a strong focus on the treatment of specialties and rare diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Cystic Fibrosis, and it’s well-established in 3 therapeutic areas: respiratory, pain and women’s care. Zambon was established in 1906 in Italy and today counts over 2,700 employees all over the world. For details on Zambon please visit www.zambon.com
About Zambon China
Zambon is in China since 1998 and employs around 450 people: the headquarters are in Shanghai with a regulatory office in Beijing and a manufacturing plant in Haikou. Zambon China offers to doctors, caregivers and patients a high-quality portfolio of respiratory and pain products that have a long heritage around the world. Zambon China invests in R&D with local clinical trials to address unmet needs in the Respiratory Area and to bring new therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Zambon China is committed every day to help more doctors, patients and care givers in finding new and innovative ways to improve people’s lives.
About Fluimucil®
Fluimucil® (acetylcysteine) is a mucolytic agent with a unique profile, involving different biological systems and exerting antioxidant properties. As a Zambon legacy product, Fluimucil® ensures safety and tolerability solidly proven by over 50 years of use in over 20 countries. Fluimucil® ampoules is part of the Fluimucil® portfolio. Zambon manufactures Fluimucil® ampoules for inhalation in its high-quality certified production site in Vicenza, Italy.
About China International Import Expo 2018 (CIIE)
Organized by Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, CIIE 2018 - China International Import Expo will take place at National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) (NECC) from 5-10 November 2018. In May 2017, Xi Jinping, the President of China announced at the Belt and Road Forum for International collaboration that China will hold CIIE starting from 2018. The Chinese government sincerely welcomes business communities, government officials, exhibitors and professional buyers across the world to participate in CIIE 2018 and to explore the Chinese market.
CONTACT FOR MEDIA INQUIRY
Zambon
Valentina Saffioti
Global Pharma Communication
valentina.saffioti@zambongroup.com
Telephone +393483486413