For seven consecutive years, each appearance at the CIIE has been marked by a distinct new identity—this is the story of Dupilumab Injection (Dupixent®) from the multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi. From enhancing disease awareness to being approved in China two years ahead of schedule and included in the national health insurance, from expanding indications for atopic dermatitis to covering all age groups, and to entering the respiratory disease treatment field—this innovative drug has continuously evolved on the stage of the CIIE. It has grown from a "CIIE baby" to a "Hexagonal Warrior" covering seven major indications. This is a testament to global innovation accelerating its landing in China and evidence that China's speed has surpassed global benchmarks.

FROM INTRODUCING INNOVATION TO TRANSFORMING AWARENESS

As France's largest healthcare company and one of the first multinational companies to enter China after the Reform and Opening-up, Sanofi has participated in every CIIE for seven consecutive years and will continue to join the expo this year.

Sanofi showcased its global R&D pipeline centered around immunology at the CIIE. Source: Sanofi

In 2018, when Sanofi presented Dupilumab Injection at the first CIIE, its indication "atopic dermatitis" was still an unfamiliar term to most Chinese people. The medical team at the booth found that not only the general public but even healthcare professionals' understanding of this disease was limited to " apply ointment to relieve itching; retreat if it recurs ".

The turning point came at the second CIIE. Patients and their families, after reading media reports from the first CIIE, specifically sought out the Sanofi booth to inquire about Dupilumab. "Atopic dermatitis" had become a clearly expressed and traceable clue for them. "Within just one year, public awareness has been profoundly transformed thanks to the educational outreach of the CIIE," remarked Jian Li, medical head of Sanofi China Specialty Care.

The greatest challenge in tackling diseases is often not the lack of medicine but the lack of scientific understanding among people. According to Wayne Shi, president of Sanofi Greater China, the CIIE has opened up new avenues for addressing this challenge, invisibly promoting the advancement of immune inflammatory treatment concepts and disease awareness in China, helping more patients manage their conditions for long-term benefits.

FROM "CIIE BABY" TO "HEXAGONAL WARRIOR"

Dupixent®, the "CIIE baby" that has attended all seven CIIEs. Source: Sanofi

If Sanofi is the "regular attendee" of the CIIE, then Dupilumab is undoubtedly the "CIIE baby" with full attendance. Each year over the past seven years, Dupilumab has appeared at the CIIE with a distinct new identity—its indications have expanded across both respiratory and dermatological fields, covering different ages for atopic dermatitis, various dermatological conditions, as well as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has grown into a "Hexagonal Warrior" covering seven major indications. At the upcoming eighth CIIE, Sanofi is expected to highlight new indications for Dupilumab currently in development.

Notably, with a simultaneous global filing, the COPD indication for Dupixent, first unveiled at the seventh CIIE, was approved in China ahead of both the US and EU — with the shortest regulatory timeline among the three markets, once again setting a new benchmark for "China speed".

FROM INSIGHTS INTO THE CHINESE MARKET TO AMPLIFYING THE CIIE SPILLOVER EFFECT

Sanofi entered China in 1982 and has deeply participated in and witnessed the development of China's healthcare industry for over 40 years. Today, Sanofi has an end-to-end value chain in China, from R&D and manufacturing to commercial operations, including three manufacturing sites and four R&D sites. It has successfully introduced over 60 innovative drugs and vaccines, covering seven of China's top 10 fatal diseases. "China has unique maetrk demands and an extremely fast pace of local innovation. Therefore, we are moving at a faster innovation speed, with more focused resource investment, streamlined business processes, and sharper local insights to create a 'China solution' based on global strategy," said Shi. "China is not only our second-largest market globally but also a key driver of Sanofi's global strategy." At the seventh CIIE, Sanofi reached significant collaborations with partners like Shanghai Pharmaceuticals , Cathay Capital, and TJ Biopharma to jointly contribute to the construction of the Sino-French pharmaceutical ecosystem value chain.

At the seventh CIIE, Sanofi, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, Cathay Capital, and TJ Biopharma announced the launch of the Sino-French pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem value chain. Source: Sanofi

In April this year, Sanofi and Cathay Capital took a further step by establishing the "Sanofi-Cathay Healthcare Innovation Fund" with a scale of approximately 2 billion yuan. This fund focuses on investing in Chinese innovative drug pipelines that have entered the clinical stage, assisting local enterprises in navigating the critical path from R&D to commercialization, and accelerating the market entry of Chinese innovative drugs.

According to Shi, the CIIE is a place gathering global innovation forces. "We have witnessed the continuous amplification of the CIIE's 'spillover effect', fostering the cultivation and formation of new quality productive forces, and providing opportunities for multinational companies to better integrate into China's large market and new development pattern." When global innovation meets Chinese opportunities on the CIIE stage, it not only gives rise to 'CIIE babies' like our versatile 'Hexagon Warrior', but also fosters a deeper understanding and collaborative ecosystem within China. Currently, Sanofi is diligently preparing for the next CIIE, where our regular 'CIIE baby' will once again make its anticipated appearance, ready to create new stories and bring fresh surprises and possibilities.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is compiled from materials provided by relevant parties participating in the CIIE and media reports, with the CIIE Bureau objectively compiling relevant content. The CIIE Bureau does not take responsibility for disputes or losses arising from the following circumstances: deviations in expression due to outdated information updates; readers' subjective judgments or actions based on this article; unauthorized alteration or dissemination of the content by third parties.