Bayer positions China as an innovation engine in its global healthcare strategy

Bayer is deepening its commitment to China as the country rapidly emerges as a major source of pharmaceutical innovation, according to Stefan Oelrich, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and head of its Pharmaceuticals Division.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Daily, soon after Bayer's China Innovation Day held at the company's Berlin campus, Oelrich said China has become far more than a key market for the German healthcare giant. Increasingly, it is serving as an innovation hub feeding directly into Bayer's global research and development pipeline.

"China has one of the most dynamic innovation systems in the pharmaceuticals industry," Oelrich said. "It is a place where collaboration can directly shape the future of medicine and help patients."

Bayer sees significant opportunities to expand cooperation with Chinese biotechnology companies, hospitals and academic institutions, particularly in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular and renal diseases, as well as emerging fields including cell and gene therapies.

According to Oelrich, China's growing capabilities in advanced technology platforms and new therapeutic modalities provide "a compelling basis for collaboration".

"We work closely with Chinese biotech companies, hospitals, and academic institutions, partnering early, focusing on where we can create value together, and connecting innovation directly into global development pathways," he said. "The goal is simple: to translate promising science faster into meaningful progress for patients."