The 2024 Takeda Research and Development China Innovation Forum takes place in Shanghai on April 2, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Themed on "Connecting Innovation for a Collaborative Ecosystem," the 2024 Takeda Research and Development China Innovation Forum was convened in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Hosted by Development Center Asia of Takeda, a leading pharmaceutical entity headquartered in Japan, the event served as a platform for industry leaders to delve into Takeda's R&D strategy and China's pharmaceutical innovation landscape.

Andy Plump, president of research and development at Takeda, speaks at a forum in Shanghai on April 2, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Andy Plump, president of research and development at Takeda, lauded China's advancements in pharmaceutical innovation. "The access to innovative medicine in China is equal to or better than almost any country in the world," he said. "Currently, we have successfully obtained approvals for 14 innovative drugs in China."

Plump underscored the sustained growth trajectory of China since 2015, emphasizing its pivotal role in Takeda's global development initiatives.

He further explained that, "When there is an innovative new medicine that emerges from a laboratory anywhere in the world, it will find its way to patients as rapidly in China as anywhere else in the world."

Plump reiterated Takeda's commitment to bolstering China's participation in global clinical trials through continued investments and strategic partnerships, aimed at advancing the company's mission of enhancing global healthcare outcomes.

Wang Lin, head of Takeda Development Center Asia, also recognized China's robust R&D capabilities and vast developmental potential.

Wang said that Takeda will further integrate global innovation trends with China's expertise to maximize the global impact of Chinese innovation, adding that the company plans to establish more collaboration platforms and foster partnerships to fortify China's innovation ecosystem.

Chris Arendt, chief scientific officer and head of research at Takeda, reflected on the rapid strides in pharmaceutical innovation witnessed in China, noting, "China has profoundly impressed me with the vibrancy and potential of the Chinese pharmaceutical innovation landscape."

A lot of the world's top medical institutions are from China, Arendt said. "We want to make sure we're not missing out on this quality of science that's happening in China, and we want to be able to leverage the types of innovative partnering models that we can apply here again. Not only for us to benefit, but so that the partners in China can benefit and have global access and capabilities."

Moreover, Arendt said he hopes to harness China's speed to support global R&D efforts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to accelerating the pace of global drug innovation.