Sustainable dynamics for improved patient access

The Viatris technology transfer project is considered as one of the first innovative drug production technology transfer projects in Vietnam. How has progress been so far and what are your plans in this area for Vietnam?

Radhika Bhalla, head in Vietnam and Asia Alliance Markets for Viatris

Our relentless pursuit is to improve access and support a sustainable healthcare system in Vietnam. This is evident by our commitment to providing high-quality medicines through a balance of global, regional, and local manufacturing and our investment in building local expertise and capacity, and partnerships.

Our local manufacturing of drugs using the technology transfer process, one of Vietnam’s first innovative drug production technology transfer projects, is aligned with the government’s Decision No.1165/QD-TTg from October 2023 on developing the local pharma industry, in balancing of our local, regional, and global supply at scale. We hope to get further support from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other relevant ministries for this project, contributing to making Vietnam a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub for the ASEAN region in the next 10-20 years.

Since 2017, the project has reached many milestones so far. We signed the first contract with an EU-GMP manufacturer for tech-transfer production of our originator products in Vietnam in 2018. After that, we broadened collaboration with this manufacturer to license production of other non-communicable disease (NCD) products in 2022.

Earlier this year, we received marketing authorisation for our first three originator products as localised drugs – and several other localised drugs are currently undergoing different stages of the transfer and approval process.

Over the past seven years, we have implemented a comprehensive training programme to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of the Vietnamese workforce. Technical experts from Viatris’ global operations continuously conducted technical training programmes and transferred the originator’s production technology processes to more than 200 locals from many different departments of our manufacturing partner, including production, quality control, engineering equipment maintenance, general management, and supply chain teams.

This initiative fosters the development of a highly skilled workforce within Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry, and the pioneering work done reflects the contribution we have made towards building local knowledge, skills, and capacity.

What are your expectations about Vietnam’s ongoing legal reform to further promote tech transfer in the pharma industry?

Local manufacturing of drugs using tech transfer has been identified as a priority of the government to meet the healthcare needs of Vietnamese people. As one of the companies implementing this, we are very pleased to get encouragement and support from the government and the MoH. However, this activity still faces many obstacles regarding procedures and investment, of which legal reforms are needed to create a more attractive investment environment for the industry.

In some countries, policymakers focus on these initiatives to foster self-sufficiency and empower countries to address their healthcare needs through a mix of global, regional, and local production. Vietnam can strike a similar balance while also acknowledging investment by providing favourable tax policies, streamlining the licensing process for drugs undergoing technology transfer and implementing policies to enable their market viability.

Additionally, reducing operational burdens associated with technology transfer models could attract greater investment and expertise from multinational companies into Vietnam, ultimately propelling the development of a robust domestic drug manufacturing industry while maintaining global supply chains.

Strengthening partnerships is important to sustain the development of the local pharmaceutical industry. How has Viatris joined its efforts to strengthen its commitment to the Vietnamese community?

Viatris is a trusted partner of the Vietnamese healthcare community by joining efforts to sustain the development of the local industry. Through the aforementioned partnership with a certified EU-GMP local manufacturer, we are transferring tech to produce essential NCD medications within the country.

To raise disease awareness in the healthcare community, we partner with many medical associations and hospitals to optimise treatment protocols. Since 2022, Viatris has collaborated with the Vietnam National Heart Association (VNHA) and the Interventional Cardiology Association to develop the SCORE_VN app, a digital tool to support doctors in estimating and stratifying cardiovascular risks for Vietnamese people. As of August, more than 221,000 visits by healthcare professionals nationwide have been recorded on the app.

In August, we successfully conducted the Viatris Masterclass 2024 event in collaboration with the VNHA and Vietnam Rheumatologic Association. This event was a cornerstone of our Southeast Asia healthcare professionals education initiative. It provided a platform for knowledge sharing, skill development, and exploring innovative approaches to address cardiovascular health, pain management, and their intersection with mental wellbeing for optimal patient outcomes.

In addition, we have collaborated with the Vietnam Medical Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Retail Pharmacy Association to conduct training programmes for over 1,000 pharmacists across four major chains, as well as other independent pharmacies nationwide. Our goal is to enhance healthcare knowledge among the public by enhancing pharmacists’ medical advisory skills to patients, particularly for individuals with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and men’s health conditions.

By combining our global expertise with local insights, we are committed to delivering high-quality, accessible, and sustainable healthcare solutions to every corner of the country. We look forward to continuing our journey of growth and collaboration, working closely with the government, healthcare professionals, and communities to promote a healthier future for Vietnam.

As the new leader of Viatris Vietnam, what are the priorities in terms of your business strategies to boost the company’s presence in the country, thus contributing more to increasing local patients’ access to high-quality medicines?

We are dedicated to crafting a comprehensive business strategy that expands our commercial footprint in Vietnam and deepens our commitment to the local healthcare community. To achieve this goal, we will focus on sustainable access at scale.

Viatris’s mission is to empower patients worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life and we work to ensure access, regardless of geography or circumstance. Viatris Vietnam embodies this mission by ensuring the availability of and access to our broad portfolio of medicines in various therapeutic categories across the whole country.

Towards this mission, we will expand our collaboration with medical associations and local healthcare professionals by supporting scientific conferences, training programmes, and public health initiatives. Through these efforts, we aim to increase awareness of various health conditions, promote early detection, and improve treatment outcomes for Vietnamese people.

We will contribute to healthcare sustainability by prioritising our portfolio expansion to address a broader range of unmet healthcare needs in Vietnam. By offering more diverse treatment options, we aim to improve patient outcomes, optimise disease management costs, and enhance the overall wellbeing of Vietnamese patients.

Last but not least, Viatris supports the government in its aim to simplify drug registration and procurement procedures within healthcare facilities, thereby improving efficiency and access to essential medicines.

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Viatris Vietnam and associations to support healthcare initiatives Global healthcare company Viatris, alongside the Vietnam National Heart Association (VNHA) and Vietnam Rheumatologic Association (VRA), hosted the Viatris Masterclass 2024 event on August 3, aiming to elevate patient care through informed practices.