Luye Pharma Group has entered a distribution and marketing partnership with ICI Pakistan Limited, a leading manufacturing and trading company based in Pakistan. According to the terms of the agreement, Luye Pharma grants ICI Pakistan Limited exclusive distribution and marketing rights for Seroquel® (quetiapine fumarate immediate-release tablets) in Pakistan. Seroquel® is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and recommended by several authorized guidelines around the world.

The agreement was signed at an online ceremony, with both parties officially marking the start of the partnership and further pledging to make joint efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues as part of the "We Care About Mental Health" APAC initiative. The regional initiative aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, supporting patients, physicians and health systems in meeting patient needs. Mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety have become major public health problems affecting global public health, especially in South Asia where high prevalence of common mental disorders have been reported.

Data shows that between 150 and 200 million people in this region have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Among them, approximately 0.6% of the population in South Asia, including Pakistan, suffers from bipolar disorder, while the prevalence of schizophrenia in Pakistan is around 1.5%. Despite the significant burden of illness, the lack of community awareness around mental health and the prevailing stigma further limit the number of patients that actively seek healthcare.

In order to raise public awareness of mental health issues, Luye Pharma and partners jointly launched the "We Care About Mental Health" initiative in the Asia Pacific region in June 2020. As of today, a total of 58 educational activities have been held across 15 countries and regions. The annual Asia Pacific Psychiatry Symposium organized by Luye Pharma for Healthcare Professionals successfully took place in June this year.

More than 600 physicians from 9 different Asia Pacific countries and regions participated, speaking about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder disease management. As an iteration of the initiative in Pakistan, Luye Pharma and ICI Pakistan Limited will organize a series of online and offline lectures to raise awareness of mental health issues, hosted by psychiatrists.