The 14th Johnson & Johnson China World Window on Pediatrics Seminar, co-hosted by Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., was held on August 5, 2017 in 16 cities. The main venue was in Beijing, with participants in cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Wenzhou and Chengdu. Pediatricians at home and abroad joined together once again to share the latest global trends and news in the field of pediatrics. More than 2,000 pediatricians watched the conference and actively participated in the discussion via computer, cell phone and iPad. The event drew unanimous praise from the attending doctors!
In the main Beijing venue, the conference was co-hosted by Professor Kunling Shen of Beijing Children’s Hospital at Capital Medical University and Professors Tianyou Wang and Jie Ding from Peking University First Hospital. Doctor Yi Yuan from the Respiratory Department of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics was responsible for answering questions posed online. Professor Yuzhi Chen, a respiratory medicine expert from the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, also attended the event. The conference facilitated the expression and exchange of ideas and academic theories by the attending pediatricians.
Vice President of Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Yifei Zhu delivered an ebullient opening speech. He discussed the current status of pediatric drug development in China and emphasized Johnson & Johnson’s strong sense of social responsibility and determination to provide “unremitting efforts in promoting continuous development in the field of pediatrics and care for the physical and mental health of every child.”
Professor Octavio Ramilo, a renowned American expert in the field of pediatric infection and Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio (USA), received a special invitation to the conference. He spoke on the topic of Clinical Impact and Medical Need in Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Today, RSV capillary bronchitis is the second most common cause of death among infants under one year old, after malaria. However, the current symptomatic treatment strategy has very poor antiviral effect, so many pediatricians and patients are eagerly awaiting a novel therapeutic regimen. Professor Ramilo discussed the epidemiology and risks of RSV, the current status of diagnosis and treatment, and future strategies for drug development (drugs, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines). As a global leader in the healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson aims to meet these enormous medical demands and create value through innovation in important medical research. The company is currently developing several novel pediatric anti-RSV infection drugs, AL-8176 (currently in Phase II clinical research) and lumicitabine (JNJ-1575), which is to be submitted to the national drug regulatory authority for Premarket Approval. These drugs are believed to represent new hope for the treatment of infants with RSV capillary bronchitis.
Doctor Stephen I. Pelton, Chief of Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Boston Medical Center, Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, and Professor of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, gave a speech entitled Strategies for the 0 to 3 and 3 to 36 month-old infant presenting with fever, elaborating strategies for diagnosing 0 to 3 and 3 to 36 month-old infants presenting with fever and providing helpful guidance for clinical practice.
Professor Wenyan Huang from Children’s Hospital of Shanghai delivered the keynote speech, titled Current Status, Diagnosis and Treatment Standards for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Children. Professor Huang elaborated on the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, features of laboratory examination, diagnostic elements and latest progress being made around pediatric UTIs. He noted that when diagnosing and treating children presenting with fever of unknown origin, 1) the possibility of UTI should always be considered; and 2) for symptomatic treatment, febrifuges ibuprofen and acetaminophen have been recommended by the Clinical Guide issued in 2016. Both have similar antipyretic effects and similar safety data; given abundant clinical research data, they may be safely used to treat fever.
Following the delivery of the three research reports, a Q&A session and exchange of ideas between Chinese and foreign participants took place between the main venue and the five auxiliary branches. Both foreign speakers expressed their pleasure at attending the conference and how special the opportunity was to exchange and share experiences and academic progress with China’s top pediatric specialists. In addition, all of the representatives and doctors who attended the conference across all six venues expressed their hope that the Johnson & Johnson’s World Window on Pediatrics Seminar would continue developing both in China and around the world. A post-event survey showed that 92% of participants would be willing to participate in similar academic activities hosted by Xian Janssen, and would recommend these activities to their medical colleagues.
As a high-end academic platform sponsored by Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., this program has long reflected the trends and direction of development in national pediatric medicine. Since December 2004, the Johnson & Johnson China World Window on Pediatrics has upheld its commitment to pediatrics by continuing to “Practice Cutting-edge Medicine, Deliver Pediatric Care.” The platform actively encourages clinicians to participate in relevant trainings and helps to lead Chinese pediatrics consistently forward.
The World Window on Pediatrics series of activities will continue to deliver pediatric care to every corner of the world. Johnson & Johnson will continue providing patient-oriented service and working to eradicate disease through the implementation of further measures of prevention, interruption and treatment, thus improving public health!