What's Happening?
At the ESMO 2025 conference in Berlin, Jo Feng, president of Hengrui Pharma, discussed the company's globalisation strategy and its impact on patient access to innovative drugs. Hengrui Pharma, a global pharmaceutical company, has invested heavily in R&D
and established multiple R&D centers worldwide. The company has entered into partnerships with major pharmaceutical players like Merck and GSK to expand its global expertise and accelerate access to international markets. These partnerships have resulted in significant deals, such as the out-licensing of a Lp(a) inhibitor asset to MSD and collaboration with GSK on a PDE3/4 inhibitor for COPD. Hengrui's strategy involves combining its early-stage research strengths with the development and commercial infrastructure of established international companies.
Why It's Important?
Hengrui Pharma's globalisation efforts are crucial for enhancing patient access to innovative drugs worldwide. By partnering with major pharmaceutical companies, Hengrui can leverage global expertise and infrastructure to bring its innovative products to international markets more efficiently. This approach not only validates Hengrui's innovation engine but also accelerates the availability of new therapies to patients globally. The company's focus on early diagnosis and treatment, as well as precision medicine, aligns with current trends in oncology, promising improved long-term outcomes for patients. Hengrui's strategy represents a 'win-win-win' model, benefiting the company, its partners, and patients worldwide.
What's Next?
In the next five to ten years, Hengrui Pharma aims to further advance its globalisation strategy by focusing on early diagnosis and intervention in oncology. The company plans to expand its presence in precision-based oncology, leveraging tumour biology and biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. Hengrui will continue to develop immunotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates, and targeted combinations to improve patient outcomes. Harmonisation of regulatory pathways and unified international clinical trial frameworks will be essential to ensure these innovations reach patients globally. Hengrui's scale in terms of patient numbers and research capacity positions it as a key player in accelerating drug development timelines and making new medicines more affordable and accessible.
