The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) signed a memorandum of understanding with Amgen, a leading biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, to foster cross-boundary collaboration in biomedical innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the two organizations said that their collaboration will focus on scientific exchange, talent development, and leveraging high-quality real-world evidence to enhance healthcare delivery, aiming to advance clinical research innovation, and building capabilities in the region.
Amgen, founded in 1980, is one of the world’s largest independent biotechnology firms. The Greater Bay Area, with its population of over 88 million, presents significant opportunities for clinical research, real-world evidence generation, and the development of patient-centered healthcare solutions.
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Bernard Cheung, CEO of GBAICTI, said that the partnership with Amgen underscores the institute’s commitment to building a high-quality, interconnected research ecosystem that links the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with international partners.
Kara Cheung, general manager of Amgen Hong Kong, highlighted Amgen’s belief that innovation is most impactful when scientific evidence is practically applied to improve patient care.
Amgen has pledged to contribute its scientific expertise and international experience in clinical research and real-world evidence, complementing GBAICTI’s robust clinical and academic network in the region.
Sherman Fung, an overseas fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and former director of SGS Hong Kong Ltd’s Bio-Science division in China and the Hong Kong SAR, told China Daily that multinational pharmaceutical companies are continuing to forge collaborations in the Greater Bay Area, and underscored that medical advancements are not confined to the efforts of a single system.
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By adhering to scientific principles, enhancing the quality of clinical trials, and bolstering data transparency and ethical governance, the Greater Bay Area boasts the potential to bridge diverse systems and dialogues. “This collaborative approach could influence the speed and safety with which innovative drugs reach patients in need,” he added.
The initial phase of the collaboration will include exploring innovative study models, generating decision-grade evidence, accelerating its translation into clinical practice, and strengthening expertise in evidence generation and biostatistics.
The partnership will also involve local tertiary institutions in developing training programs to nurture talent and foster the next generation of clinical research expertise in the region.
GBAICTI, wholly owned by the HKSAR government, is located in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. The institute serves as a one-stop support platform for clinical trials and plays a central role in enhancing the Greater Bay Area’s status as a world-class hub for scientific research, according to GBAICTI.
Contact the writer at irismuk@chinadailyhk.com
