The strategic collaboration will be centered around bringing the biopharmaceutical group's CoronaVac® into Hong Kong's healthcare market.
Media release
Hong Kong, September 30, 2021 – DKSH Business Unit Healthcare, Asia's leading partner for healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Asia and beyond, and SINOVAC Biotech (Hong Kong) Ltd. (SINOVAC) jointly announce their strategic partnership to strengthen the scientific education of doctors and healthcare practitioners on the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac®, and also to enhance the coverage across channels in the healthcare sector in Hong Kong.
CoronaVac® was the first official vaccine to arrive in Hong Kong on February 19, 2021 and has been one of the two official vaccines adopted under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), since then. On June 1, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) granted the vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval. CoronaVac® is one of the most widely usedCOVID-19 vaccines. With almost two billion doses delivered globally, the vaccine is now available in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and South America. SINOVAC is going to supply a total of 380 million doses of CoronaVac®to COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).
During the contract signing ceremony, SINOVAC and DKSH addressed the partnership with confidence and exchanged visions and opinions about the latest research and development of the vaccine and its application in various regions.
Ms. Cheryl Law, International Business Development Director, Asia Pacific of SINOVAC, said: "On behalf of SINOVAC, we are delighted to partner with DKSH in the fight against COVID-19, which has hugely impacted every market and region for nearly two years. SINOVAC has dedicated one year of research on the development of CoronaVac® since the beginning of the outbreak. We have driven all resources, manpower, research, and development into this fight and into the development of this vaccine within such a short period of time. In the next phase, we need a trusted and professional partner to reach and educate the local medical practitioners about the importance of vaccination and to provide updates on the latest research and clinical trials made of CoronaVac®, using COVID-19 variants, booster doses, age extension into pediatric population, and other segments.”
In his officiating speech, Mr. Fong Wai Ting, Head of Management and Vice President of Healthcare, DKSH Hong Kong & Macau, expressed his appreciation for the partnership: “DKSH Hong Kong is pleased to partner with SINOVAC. Vaccines are crucial, either as an immunity agent or as a preventive agent, against severe medical conditions. This project is a significant step to further engage and expand DKSH's contribution to the community and to provide people with access to quality healthcare products. We are continuously fulfilling our purpose of “enriching people's lives.”
For further information, please contact:
DKSH Business Unit Healthcare DKSH Hong Kong
Sheena Flannery Astrid Lo
Director, Group Communications Manager, Branding & Communications
Phone +66 2 220 9739 Phone +852 2895 9610
sheena.flannery@dksh.com astrid.lo@dksh.com
About SINOVAC
SINOVAC Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. SINOVAC's product portfolio includes vaccines against COVID-19, enterovirus71 (EV71), hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, 23-Valent pneumococcal polysaccharide ("PPV"), H5N1 pandemic influenza (avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu), varicella and mumps.
SINOVAC's COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac®, has been granted emergency use approval or conditional marketing authorisation by over 50 countries or regions worldwide. Healive®, the hepatitis A vaccine manufactured by the Company, passed WHO prequalification assessment in 2017. The EV71 vaccine, an innovative vaccine developed by SINOVAC against hand foot and mouth disease, was commercialised in China in 2016. In 2009, SINOVAC was the first company worldwide to receive approval for its H1N1 influenza vaccine, which it has supplied to the Chinese government's vaccination campaign and stockpiling programme. The Company is also the only supplier of the H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine to the government stockpiling programme. The Company is developing several new products including a Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine and combined vaccines. SINOVAC primarily sells its vaccines in China, while also exploring growth opportunities in international markets. The Company is seeking market authorization of its products in over 50 countries worldwide. www.sinovac.com.
About DKSH
DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. The DKSH Business Unit Healthcare distributes pharmaceuticals, consumer health and over-the-counter (OTC) products as well as medical devices. With around 7,970 specialists, the Business Unit generated net sales of CHF 5.4 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com/hec