Makati city: AstraZeneca Philippines and AC Health have entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish a partnership aimed at bolstering clinical trial capabilities in the Philippines and enhancing patient access to innovative therapies.
According to Philippines News Agency, AstraZeneca announced in a news release that the partnership will combine its global clinical research expertise with AC Health's integrated hospital network. This collaboration will utilize the Healthway Medical Network to evaluate and prepare multiple healthcare facilities for clinical trials. The initiative is designed to equip investigators and clinical teams with training based on Good Clinical Practice standards while expanding research opportunities beyond traditional trial centers.
AstraZeneca is recognized as the leading clinical trial collaborator in the country, with over 30 ongoing clinical trials and more than PHP3 billion invested in local clinical research over the past six years. These trials span various fields including oncology, respiratory, immunology, and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines country president, emphasized the partnership's focus on enhancing patient access to high-quality clinical research and innovative treatments.
RJ Recio, AC Health's chief strategy and investment officer, highlighted the collaboration by noting that AstraZeneca brings robust clinical research expertise, while AC Health provides a network of hospitals, doctors, and healthcare professionals to bring these research opportunities closer to Filipino patients.
Under the agreement, the Healthway Medical Network will assess institutional infrastructure and readiness for clinical trials. AstraZeneca, on the other hand, will contribute by sharing trial opportunities, offering technical expertise, and providing training support. The initial phase will focus on identifying suitable institutions within Healthway's network, including the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, subject to scientific, ethical, regulatory, and feasibility requirements.
This initiative aligns with AstraZeneca's larger efforts to enhance the healthcare ecosystem, including its partnership with De La Salle University at the DLSU Laguna Campus Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology Park, which is set to continue until May 2026.
