MSD's commitment to China continues to benefit millions

This year marks the 35th anniversary of multinational pharmaceutical company MSD transferring its hepatitis B vaccine technology to China at zero profit — and more than three decades of it continuously benefiting the health and lives of millions of Chinese people.

An event commemorating the anniversary took place on Wednesday during the seventh China International Import Expo in Shanghai. It was designed to honor and reflect upon the remarkable journey of the hepatitis B vaccine technology transfer while encouraging discussions and envisioning the innovative evolution of China's public health sector.

Upholding the principle that "life is priceless", MSD transferred the world's cutting-edge recombinant hepatitis B vaccine technology to China in 1989.

"Thirty-five years ago, MSD transferred its hepatitis B vaccine technology to China and actively assisted in the local production of the vaccine, starting an unforgettable journey," said Anna Van Acker, senior vice-president of MSD and president of MSD in China.

"Together with Chinese public health stakeholders, we continue to pursue the goal of eliminating communicable diseases for countless patients and families. This historic move also marked our long-term commitment to delivering on our mission to save and improve lives. We have been dedicated to introducing innovative vaccine products into China, bringing every dose of vaccine to families, communities and society, by providing health protection where possible throughout people's lives."

As important witnesses of the vaccine technology transfer, Zhao Kai, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former director of the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, and Roy Vagelos, retired chairman and CEO of MSD, sent video congratulations to the event, reminiscing about the details of the groundbreaking Sino-foreign cooperation.

Liang Xiaofeng, vice-president of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association and dean of the Institute of Disease Control and Prevention at Jinan University, said: "Thanks to the efforts of countless public health practitioners, the fruits of this collaboration have benefited the lives of countless Chinese newborns. Following the hepatitis B vaccine technology transfer, China's immunization policies were further improved, leading to a significant increase in vaccination coverage and a noteworthy decline in hepatitis B virus infection rates."

In recent years, the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine coverage for Chinese infants has soared to 99 percent. The carrier rate of the hepatitis B surface antigen among Chinese children under 5 years of age decreased from 9.7 percent in 1992 to 0.3 percent in 2020, preventing infections in tens of million cases, Liang noted.

Qiao Youlin, professor and researcher at the School of Population Medicine and Public Health of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, said the successful outcomes and insights gleaned from the vaccine technology transfer have furnished invaluable guidance for the prevention and control of other diseases, "including cervical cancer, a malignancy that receives significant social attention and is the sole cancer with a clear etiology. HPV vaccination serves as an effective measure in averting HPV infections and associated diseases. HPV vaccination is being promoted and implemented in many countries and regions worldwide."

Meanwhile, this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the global Expanded Programme on Immunization. Chen Zhiping, director of Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted: "We celebrate the triumph of the hepatitis B vaccine technology along with the relentless pursuit of human health and scientific advancement. Moving forward, we will persist in upholding the concept of prevention as a priority and the integration of prevention and treatment, fostering the continual enhancement and deepening of the public health services."

As MSD's second-largest market, China plays a pivotal role in the company's global expansion strategy. With over 30 years of comprehensive market exploration, MSD China remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering advanced innovative products and health solutions to the Chinese people.

The company is resolutely dedicated to corporate social responsibility in China and has pledged to introduce more innovative vaccine products and medications in the country.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn