Awareness of “We Care About Mental Health” set to increase across APAC
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Luye Pharma has granted ICI Pakistan Limited the exclusive rights to distribute and market Seroquel® in Pakistan.
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As part of the “We Care About Mental Health” initiative, the two companies have pledged to make joint efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues.
SHANGHAI, September 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Luye Pharma Group, an international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the R&D, manufacturing and sales of innovative medicines, has entered into a distribution and marketing partnership with ICI Pakistan Limited, a leading manufacturing and marketing based in Pakistan. Under the terms of the agreement, Luye Pharma grants ICI Pakistan Limited exclusive rights to distribute and market Seroquel® (quetiapine fumarate immediate-release tablets) in Pakistan. Seroquel® is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and recommended by several authoritative guidelines worldwide.
The agreement was signed in an online ceremony, with both parties officially marking the start of the partnership and further committing to joint efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues through the APAC “We Care About Mental Health”. The regional initiative aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, helping patients, physicians and healthcare systems meet patient needs.
Mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety have become major public health issues affecting global public health, especially in South Asia where a high prevalence of common mental disorders has been reported. Data shows that between 150 and 200 million people in this region have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Among them, about 0.6% of the population of South Asiaincluding Pakistansuffers from bipolar disorder[i]while the prevalence of schizophrenia in Pakistan is about 1.5%[ii]. Despite the significant disease burden, the lack of community awareness of mental health and the prevailing stigma further limits the number of patients who actively seek health care.
In order to raise public awareness of mental health issues, Luye Pharma and its partners have jointly launched the “We Care About Mental Health” initiative in the Asia Pacific region in June 2020. To date, a total of 58 educational activities have been organized in 15 countries and regions. The annual Asia-Pacific Psychiatry Symposium organized by Luye Pharma for healthcare professionals was successfully held in June this year. More than 600 doctors from 9 different Asia Pacific countries and regions participated, talking about schizophrenia and the management of bipolar disorders. As an iteration of the initiative of PakistanLuye Pharma and ICI Pakistan Limited will organize a series of online and offline lectures to raise awareness of mental health issues, led by psychiatrists.
“Mental health is a serious global public health challenge that requires a sustained and united response from all of us. The regional initiative ‘We Care About Mental Health’ aims to raise awareness, provide information on options for treatment available and to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues,” said Andy Siou, APAC regional director of Luye Pharma (International). “Partnering with ICI Pakistan Limited represents our first major step towards caring for more patients in South Asia. As we deepen our market coverage in the region, we look forward to bringing more innovative, high-quality, evidence-based medicines to the market, working with local partners to raise mental health awareness, and bringing better care of patients in need.
“The partnership with Luye Pharma is in line with ICI Pakistan Limited’s mission to improve lives. There is an urgent need to raise awareness and address mental health issues in Pakistanand we are happy to work with a global partner like Luye Pharma to bring high quality, innovative medicines to the local market by Pakistan“, said Ali Masood, General Manager Pharmaceutical Business of ICI Pakistan Limited. “We are delighted to start this partnership under the ‘We Care About Mental Health’ initiative and work with Luye Pharma to improve access to medicines and contribute to better mental health care in Pakistan.”
About Luye Pharma Group
Luye Pharma Group is an international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the R&D, manufacturing and sale of innovative medicines. The company has established R&D centers in Chinathe United States and Europewith a strong pipeline of over 30 drug candidates in China and more than 10 drug candidates in other international markets. Along with a number of new drugs and formulations in the central nervous system and oncology therapeutic areas being explored in the United States, Europe and Japan, Luye Pharma maintains high-level international standards in new drug delivery technologies, including microspheres, liposomes, and transdermal drug delivery systems. The company has achieved multiple innovations in new chemical entities and antibodies, and is also actively pursuing strategic developments in the areas of cell therapies and gene therapies.
Luye Pharma develops a global supply chain of 8 manufacturing sites with more than 30 production lines in total, establishing GMP quality management and international standard control systems. With more than 30 products spanning central nervous system, oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism and other therapeutic areas, business is conducted in more than 80 countries and regions worldwide, including the largest pharmaceutical markets – ChinaUnited States, Europe and Japan, as well as in fast-growing emerging markets. For more information, please visit: www.luye.cn/lvye_en
About ICI Pakistan Limited
ICI Pakistan Limited is a leader PakistanNew York-based manufacturing and trading company comprised of five diverse businesses: Polyester, Soda Ash, Chemicals and Agro-Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, and Animal Health. Through these activities, the Company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including: polyester staple fibers (PSF), soda ash, general and specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, animal health products and agricultural products (including chemicals, field crop seeds, vegetable seeds and others). In the nutrition segment, NutriCo Morinaga (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of the Company imports, manufactures, markets and locally distributes Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd, Japan products in Pakistan.
ICI Pakistan Limited is part of the Yunus Brothers Group (YBG), one of Pakistan’s fastest growing and most progressive conglomerates with a broad portfolio of businesses including but not limited to: cement, textiles, manufacturing electricity and commodity trading. For more information visit: www.ici.com.pk
[i] Sadiq Naveedetc Prevalence of common mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Frontal psychiatry. 2020; 11:573150. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7492672/
[i]i Rukhsana Nawaz, etc. Overview of Schizophrenia Research and Treatment Pakistan. Heliyon. 2020 November; 6(11):e05545. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7695967/
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