Nestlé Skin Health Launches Center to Advance Healthy and Active Ageing in Shanghai

21 Jul 2015 --- Nestlé Skin Health has launched its new Skin Health Investigation, Education and Longevity Development (SHIELD) Center in Shanghai. The Shanghai SHIELD center will establish China as one of the anchors in Nestlé Skin Health’s global innovation network and is built to foster breakthroughs and collaboration in skin health through medical investigation, education and applications related to the convergence of technologies and bio-informatics.

This global initiative is driven by the growing, changing and still underappreciated needs of an increasingly ageing population and the need for a life course of healthy skin to enhance well-being.

“We are very enthusiastic about opening our first Asia-based SHIELD center in Shanghai. It will be a hub for developing solutions to meet China’s growing skin health needs and will serve as a platform for collaboration and innovation,” said Mr. Humberto Antunes, CEO of Nestlé Skin Health S.A. and Chairman of Galderma Pharma S.A. “We will engage with scientists and healthcare professionals to create an environment where medicines and technologies can be combined with bio-informatics to develop preventative, diagnostic and treatment strategies to advance next generation of skin health regimens.” 

In 2014 Nestlé Skin Health announced its plan to open a global network SHIELD centers around the world to meet skin health challenges that result from our 21st century longevity. The first SHIELD center will open in New York City in the fourth quarter of 2015 followed by the Shanghai center in the first quarter of 2016 with other location planned in the future.

“An increasing demand for healthcare in China is driven by the ageing population, rapid urbanization and industrial development. Central to this will be good skin health.” said Mr. Benoit Legodec, Regional Director of Galderma Greater China. “Galderma, Nestlé Skin Health’s division focused on medical solutions, continuously strives to find innovative solutions to address a lifetime of skin health needs. The SHIELD network aligns with our strong commitment to China – both the healthcare community and consumers – and demonstrates our care for the ageing group with an ongoing progression of innovative technologies and products to protect, serve and enhance skin health.”

China’s ageing challenges are looming and the needs for maintaining and restoring skin health as well as treating skin conditions and diseases are a more essential part of wellness, active ageing and good healthcare than ever before. According to official statistics, the elderly population in China will reach 248,000,000 by 2020, which accounts for 17% of the country’s total population. Each year, there are more and more cases of skin cancer, pruritus and other skin diseases in the elderly population, and they are often associated with a considerable amount of physical and emotional burden.

“Nestle Skin Health is truly breaking ground by taking action to provide real solutions for a healthier and more active ageing – one of the central and most pressing needs of 21stcentury society,” said Michael W. Hodin, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Coalition on Aging. “With 1 billion of us over the age of 60 by 2020, the Global Coalition on Aging sees Nestle Skin Health’s SHIELD initiative as an important and leading innovator to enable healthier and more active ageing for individuals of all ages and society at large. Moreover, we are proud to be partnering with Nestle Skin Health in this global venture, which recognizes that longevity leads to an even greater demand for healthier skin across our life course.” 

“We are delighted to see the SHIELD Center being launched in Shanghai,” said Professor Zheng Jie, Chair of China Society of Dermatology. “This center will not only provide new resources, allow local skin health professionals to communicate with experts from other fields and share experiences with each other, but will also raise awareness of the importance of skin health among the public. Skin health is vital to the quality of life and well-being at all ages. Proactive skin care will help us obtain a healthier skin as we age and support a more active aging through out our lifetimes.”

Mr. Humberto C. Antunes, CEO of Nestlé Skin Health S.A. and Chairman of Galderma Pharma S.A., Mr. Benoit Legodec, Regional Director of Galderma Greater China, Mr. Didier Leclercq, Managing Director of the SHIELD Network and Mr. Michael W. Hodin, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Coalition on Aging, announced the Shanghai SHIELD center during a launching ceremony today in Shanghai, China, attended by many skin health professionals, dignitaries and public officials.