22 March 2017 –NANJING: Ten leading domestic and foreign trade associations signed and endorsed the Declaration for Pharmaceutical Innovation today at the inaugural International Pharmaceutical Innovation Forum (IPIF). The Declaration outlines the common vision shared by all signatories of how a sustainable ecosystem can help foster drug innovation in China and support the realization of the goals set forth in “Healthy China 2030”. This marks a significant step for the pharmaceutical industry. IPIF is being held on March 22nd and 23rd in Nanjing, and is co-hosted by the R&D Based Pharmaceutical Association Committee (RDPAC), the Nanjing Municipal Government, and the Industrial Culture Development Center (ICDC), under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
In addition to the signing of the Declaration, another leading action of the Forum is the establishment of a Coalition for Innovation that will continue the work on the topics discussed at IPIF. IPIF serves as a platform to facilitate high-level discussions between the Chinese government and key players in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, including academia, industry associations, government trade bodies, and key opinion leaders.
“This Forum and signing of the Declaration marks an important milestone for the pharmaceutical industry in China,” Mike Dethick, Managing Director of RDPAC, announced in his opening speech. “The consensus reached in Nanjing demonstrates the full support of key stakeholders in recognizing the need to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem. RDPAC values the opportunity to work with Jiangning District, Nanjing City, and ICDC to build partnerships and engage in experience sharing, and we hope to continue building upon this relationship as the Coalition’s work progresses.
In 2016, RDPAC, along with three other domestic associations, jointly conducted research and produced the report, “Fostering a Sustainable Ecosystem for Drug Innovation in China” (hereinafter “Ecosystem Report”). The recommendations of the Ecosystem Report serves as the backbone to the Declaration and many of the topics addressed at IPIF. The Ecosystem Report found that the number of articles published in high-quality life sciences journals rose from 4,000 in 2012 to more than 6,500 in 2015, the number of innovative drugs in the clinical trial phase increased from 21 in 2011 to 69 in 2015, the number of pipeline compounds hit 656 in 2015, indicating that China’s drug innovation ecosystem has begun to take shape and that the bio-pharmaceutical industry is well-poised to drive innovation. It is necessary for China to further advance in taking steps to create a sustainable drug innovation ecosystem. To move in this direction, the Ecosystem Report cites the need for a top-down design at the central government level and for all elements along the innovation chain, including basic R&D, clinical research, the regulatory process, and procurement and reimbursement to be supported by scientific guiding principles and sound policies and mechanisms. At the same time, intellectual property rights protection and capital investment must be advanced.
In addition to focusing on the innovation ecosystem, the Forum also explores discourse on other important issues in healthcare: panel sessions will feature topics on robust research and development capabilities in the global R&D context, improving patient access to innovative medicine, and enabling inward and outbound investment to drive innovation.
Eric Bouteiller, Chair of RDPAC, highlighted, “the most important outcome of establishing and promoting a sustainable drug innovation ecosystem will be its benefit to patient wellbeing. As the medical industry advances at a rapid rate, all stakeholders – industry, government, academia – need to work together in translating investments in R&D and medical achievements into direct benefits for patients.”
The Forum is attended by over 300 Chinese and foreign experts, industry leaders, and policy makers. Senior-level officials from the MIIT, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) are also in attendance.
Associations endorsing the Declaration:
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (CCCMHPIE)
China Nonprescription Medicines Association (CNMA)
China Pharmaceutical Association of Plant Engineering (CPAPE)
China Pharmaceutical Industry Association (CPIA)
Chinese Pharmaceutical Enterprises Association (CPEA)
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee (RDPAC)
