Pharma executive calls on drugmakers to unite in battle against hepatitis
More joint efforts are needed to improve access to medicine and achieve the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating viral hepatitis before 2030, said a senior executive of a US pharmaceutical company.
Jin Fangqian, vice-president and China general manager of Gilead Sciences, made the remarks at the second Conference of the Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia, which ran from June 1-4 in Qingdao, Shandong province.
During his keynote speech, Jin said viral hepatitis is still causing millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Over the past few years, the Chinese government has rolled out a slew of measures and policies to deal with viral hepatitis. They have produced remarkable results so far, he said.
“However, there is a long way to go before we reach the goal of eradicating viral hepatitis,” he said.
He added that it requires closer cooperation among enterprises, governments, academic institutions and other organizations.
Healthcare authorities need to work with communities to expand screening. Meanwhile, medical institutions can optimize their diagnosis and treatment system so that confirmed patients receive standardized treatment and regular checkups.
Jin also pointed out several tasks for enterprises to support the country’s endeavors to vanquish viral hepatitis.
All drugmakers’ first task is to provide safe and quality products, he said. “Gilead delivered four innovative treatments for chronic hepatitis C in less than four years. We have also been committed to transforming care for people with chronic hepatitis B for 20 years, and are pursuing multiple pathways toward a possible cure.”
More than 4 million patients worldwide have been treated with Gilead’s hepatitis C medicines so far, according to the company.
In the future, we will continue to increase the accessibility and affordability of existing innovative medicines and offer new medicines to Chinese patients.”
Jin Fangqian, vice-president and China general manager of Gilead Sciences
Gilead also increased its efforts to raise public awareness of viral hepatitis and broaden access to innovative medicines.
Since 2017, when Gilead started its operation in China, the company has joined hands with domestic partners to conduct viral hepatitis testing and screening.
The mass screening helps to identify infected people early on, remove stigmas among patients and reduce social discrimination, according to Gilead.
So far, the free HCV screening program funded by Gilead has reached 31 provinces in China, involving more than 400 hospitals and benefiting more than 150,000 people.
Gilead is also engaged in donations, academic communication and public education about viral hepatitis.
At the beginning of 2020, the company launched an initiative to donate medication to patients with hepatitis B. More than 10,000 patients had received help from this activity by April 30, according to Gilead’s statistics.
“We look forward to strengthening collaboration with governments and multiple stakeholders to meet more patients’ demands and attain the (elimination) goal of 2030,” Jin said.
When asked about Gilead’s future development in China, the senior executive expressed confidence and optimism.
He said as the government moves forward with reforms in the new drug review and approval system, innovative medicine manufacturers including Gilead have gained considerable benefits.
Since 2015, eight medicines from Gilead have come onto the Chinese market. Four of them were included in the national reimbursement drug list, according to Gilead.
While there are some challenges, a friendly and supportive environment for innovative medicines has formed thanks to years of effort by Chinese authorities, Jin said.
“In the future, we will continue to increase the accessibility and affordability of existing innovative medicines and offer new medicines to Chinese patients,” he said.
Gilead plans to introduce drugs against fungal infection and Hepatitis D to China in the next few years, according to Jin.
Gilead also signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control and the Health Commission of Hainan province at the forum.
“I expect that our cooperation will contribute to an ideal model for Hainan’s hepatitis cure and control. And then the model can extend to other cities and provinces in the country,” Jin said.