Ipsen China signed a strategic partnership agreement on Monday with Qingdao Baheal Medical Inc, a subsidiary of Baheal Pharmaceutical Group, in an effort to expand its market layouts in China. [Photo/Baheal Pharmaceutical Group]

Ipsen China signed a strategic partnership agreement on Monday with Qingdao Baheal Medical Inc, a subsidiary of Baheal Pharmaceutical Group, in an effort to expand its market layouts in China.

Using Baheal's rich experience in omni-channel sales, multi-category synergy and digital marketing, two of Ipsen's products — a bowel preparation drug and a drug to treat geriatric cognitive disorders — will enter China's grassroots hospitals and retail channels, to better meet Chinese patients' needs.

"The cooperation with Baheal aims at closely staying tuned to patients' needs, and offering efficient treatment plans and high-quality products to patients, in order to better serve the patients and improve their quality of life," Said Alan Chen, general manager of Ipsen China.

"We lay emphasis in China's primary care. With the advancement of the hierarchical medical system and the development of the country's grassroots medical institutions, there are numerous unmet needs at the grassroots level. The cooperation will help high-quality medical resources enter the grassroots regions, and explore an innovative development model in serving grassroots markets," he said.

Fu Gang, chairman of Baheal Pharmaceutical Group, said, "The grassroots level is an important channel to reflect product value and serve patients. With our comprehensive supply chain covering grassroots regions, we will offer better medical products and services over a broader range." 

Ipsen mentioned that to improve patients' access to basic medicines for chronic diseases, they will not only expand traditional hospital and retail channels, but also explore e-commerce channels.

"Early screening for colorectal cancer increases cure rates and saves medical resources. Ipsen's product for bowel preparation is testified in efficiency and safety. The omni-channel cooperation benefits Chinese patients with bowel diseases, letting them take the medicine in a more convenient way," said Wang Huahong, deputy director of the digestive branch of the Beijing Medical Doctor Association.

"In the future, Ipsen China will constantly enhance medication accessibility, by not only improving services in hospitals, but also deepening exploration in retail channels," Chen said.