Henlius leads way as bilateral ties power biopharmaceutical growth

As China and Saudi Arabia strengthen their ties to explore collaboration opportunities across all sectors, Chinese biopharmaceutical company Henlius is eager to grow deeper roots in Saudi Arabia and leverage its expertise to support the nation's industrial upgrade and transformation in biopharmaceuticals.

According to Sheng Yanci, head of Henlius' Saudi joint venture subsidiary and also general manager of global strategy and project management office of Henlius, the Hong Kong-listed company, a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, is establishing joint ventures in Saudi Arabia with SVAX, a subsidiary of the prominent Fakeeh Family business group, to develop, produce and commercialize biopharma products. The construction of its production facility is progressing as planned. "Henlius will assist our partners in constructing production sites, transferring technologies, establishing quality control systems and implementing management systems," Sheng said. "We aim to provide affordable innovative medicines to benefit more patients in the region."

Henlius, established in 2010 in China with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases and ophthalmic diseases, has been committed to expanding its footprint in the global market. So far, it has launched six products in China, while four have been approved for marketing in overseas markets. A total of five marketing applications have been accepted for review in China, the United States and European Union. Its products have been distributed in more than 50 countries around the world.

Sheng, who has been leading the Chinese team within the joint venture over the past few months, said the decision to invest in Saudi Arabia is based on the strong growth potential of the healthcare market of the nation.

"The local market is characterized by its small yet highly profitable nature," Sheng said. "Our initial entry into Saudi Arabia was facilitated by partnerships with local distributors. The robust affordability in the region has bolstered our confidence to further localize our development and production processes."

In addition, Saudi Arabia's commitment to economic diversification, improved government relations and enhanced mutual understanding between the nations have also paved the way for Henlius to explore and capitalize on the market, said Sheng.

"Chinese say business success depends on three things — tianshi, dili and renhe, which means perfect timing, a promising and profitable market, and strong support. Saudi Arabia is just such a business destination that gathers all three elements," said Sheng.

Looking ahead, Henlius will continue to use its know-how to support Saudi Arabia to develop its biopharmaceuticals chain. Through the joint venture in Saudi Arabia, Henlius will also look to extend its reach to neighboring markets including North Africa, Turkiye and other countries in the Middle East to serve unmet medical demand in regional markets. It will also try to bring Saudi Arabia's capital to China to boost its research and development.

"China's biopharmaceutical businesses have a proven record of being hardworking, competent and having high efficiency around the globe. Our venture in Saudi Arabia will extend beyond mere factory construction; it will encompass a comprehensive, long-term strategy aimed at leveraging our expertise to support the local industry," said Sheng. "We will not only send Chinese engineers to assist the new factory, but will also invite engineers from Saudi Arabia to visit our Chinese facilities for the exchange of management and operational insights."

As one of the first Chinese biopharmaceutical companies to launch production in Saudi Arabia, Henlius will strive to understand and respect local culture. It will advocate cross-cultural communication to foster a mutually beneficial outcome, according to Sheng. "Respect is the foundation for long-term trust. Respect forms the bedrock of enduring trust. We are committed to supporting our partners in Saudi Arabia, known for their exceptional trading acumen, as they navigate and evolve during the latest phase of industrial advancement," said Sheng.

So far, Henlius has made presence in nations and regions such as the United States, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The company successfully established collaborations in regional markets to swiftly localize its products and now operations. "As a company rooted in China, our vision extends beyond merely being present in China for the globe; we aim to be a global contributor. This is why we are placing significant emphasis on our endeavors in Saudi Arabia," said Sheng.

tangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn