Collaboration programs initiated by United States-based biotech company Amgen at last year's China International Import Expo are continuing to bear fruit and benefit Chinese patients, said the company's top China executive during an interview on Monday.

Amgen took part in the CIIE for the first time last year, when it launched a program with the China Women's Federation to conduct patient education on osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The company will attend the 6th edition of the expo next month as well, said Irene Hsu, vice-president of Amgen and general manager of Amgen China.

Hsu said that this partnership with the China Women's Federation was later expanded to include screening for post-menopausal women with high risk of fractures.

The company has also kicked off programs in cardiovascular diseases since the conclusion of the previous CIIE. Hsu said that one program the company is working on this year involves the diagnosis and treatment of hyper lipidemia and disease management. A report will be issued during the upcoming expo.

"The CIIE is an excellent platform for us to showcase our research and development capabilities and our innovative medicines. It's also a very good platform for us to foster collaboration and partnership with local partners, and bring innovative medicines to more Chinese patients more quickly," said Hsu.

"Moreover, the CIIE is also a window that demonstrates to the world that China is committed to high-quality development and inviting foreign enterprises to participate in this opportunity. The healthcare industry is a key part of this focus. Given our focus on innovation and healthy aging, which is a priority agenda for the Chinese government, the CIIE is a very important platform for us to champion our healthy aging agenda, which includes the need to evolve our health care system from break and fix to predict and prevent," she added.

Since its entry into the China market a decade ago, Amgen has introduced seven innovative medicines to Chinese patients. Hsu said factors like favorable policies aimed at accelerating healthcare innovations have given the company confidence in continuing to invest in China.

By Zhou Wenting