Once known for manufacturing generic drugs, China is now pioneering breakthrough therapies that are reshaping medicine.
Once known primarily for manufacturing generic drugs, China has emerged as a global powerhouse in biotechnology, developing innovative treatments for diseases ranging from cancer to obesity.
China's remarkable ascent in biotechnology stems from a deliberate, decade-long national strategy to transform its pharmaceutical industry from an imitator into an innovator. The shift began around 2015 when the Chinese government launched its landmark "Made in China 2025" industrial policy, which explicitly prioritized biopharmaceuticals among key strategic sectors 1 .
This coordinated strategy involved financial support from the government, intellectual property licensing from abroad, and significant spending on laboratories, technology parks, and academic research 1 .
Regulatory reforms played an equally crucial role. China overhauled its drug regulatory agency to better align with international standards like the FDA and European Medicines Agency, creating a pathway for drugs developed in China to gain approval in global markets 1 . This regulatory harmonization meant that data from clinical trials run in China could support regulatory filings in other parts of the world, dramatically speeding up cross-border collaborations 1 .
The results of China's strategic investment in biotech are quantifiable and striking. The country has not only increased its output of innovative drugs but has also become essential to global pharmaceutical development.
Clinical trials in China (2024)
Involvement in industry's clinical programs 6
Projected FDA approvals by 2040 2
Projected annual revenue by 2040 2
| Metric | Current Status | Projected Future |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Global Clinical Trials | More clinical trials than US (7,100 vs 6,000 in 2024) | N/A |
| Chinese Company Involvement in Clinical Programs | Involved in 20% of industry's clinical development programs 6 | N/A |
| FDA Approvals of China-Originated Drugs | Approximately 5% of current FDA approvals 2 | Projected 35% of FDA approvals by 2040 2 |
| Annual Revenue from China-Originated Drugs | N/A | $34 billion by 2030; $220 billion by 2040 2 |
| Therapeutic Area | Notable Examples | Global Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology | Ivonescimab (Akeso's lung cancer drug that outperformed Merck's Keytruda) 6 | Redefining cancer treatment standards |
| Cardiometabolic Diseases | GLP-1 portfolio for weight loss and type 2 diabetes (Hengrui) 1 | Addressing global obesity epidemic |
| Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases | Asthma drug with once-yearly potential (Aiolos Bio) 1 | Transforming chronic disease management |
The story of Aiolos Bio, a company that emerged from one of China's most innovative business models, exemplifies China's new role in global biotech. The experiment began when venture capitalists at Bain Capital Life Sciences and Atlas Venture invested $245 million to acquire rights outside China to an asthma drug candidate developed by Shanghai's Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals 1 .
The approach, known as the "NewCo model," has become increasingly popular among Chinese biotech companies looking to expand internationally 7 .
In the Aiolos Bio case, the asthma drug was designed to have a long half-life, meaning it could potentially be administered only once per year—a dramatic improvement over the daily inhaler routine familiar to asthma sufferers 1 .
The success was swift and remarkable. Just over two months after Aiolos publicly launched, pharmaceutical giant GSK agreed to acquire the company for $1 billion upfront, plus up to $400 million in milestone payments 1 .
Initial Investment
Time to Acquisition
Acquisition Value
The model proved so successful that the same venture firms soon returned to Hengrui to license more assets, forming Kailera Therapeutics with $400 million in venture backing and four drug candidates for weight loss and metabolic conditions 1 . Notably, Hengrui maintained a 19.9% stake in Kailera, ensuring the Chinese company would share in the long-term value created 7 .
Behind these clinical successes lies a robust research infrastructure, including a growing domestic supply chain for critical research materials. Chinese pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to local manufacturers for reagents—compounds used in lab tests for analysis and quality control 3 .
The shift toward locally manufactured reagents has accelerated recently, driven by both practical and geopolitical factors. Rising import tariffs and concerns about supply chain security have led Chinese drugmakers to increasingly source from domestic suppliers like Shanghai Titan Scientific and Nanjing Vazyme Biotech 3 .
China's reagent market value in 2024 3
China's biotech rise has not gone unnoticed by global pharmaceutical companies. Facing their own "patent cliff"—with $115 billion in revenue at risk from expiring drug patents by 2035—U.S. and European firms are actively seeking to license innovative compounds from Chinese partners 2 . By value, 32% of pharmaceutical out-licensing deals worldwide in the first half of 2025 involved China-made assets, up from single-digit percentages just a few years ago 1 .
Opening innovation centers in Shanghai and Beijing 1 .
Launching its first startup incubator outside the U.S. in Beijing 1 .
Hosting more than 20 startups in its Shanghai accelerator 1 .
However, this progress faces significant headwinds. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China represent perhaps the greatest challenge. Proposed legislation like the Biosecure Act, which would require U.S. companies to sever contracts with certain Chinese manufacturers, along with increased tariffs and export controls, could hinder partnerships and limit funding for Chinese innovators 1 2 6 .
By value, 32% of pharmaceutical out-licensing deals worldwide in the first half of 2025 involved China-made assets 1 .
China's transformation from a producer of generics to a generator of novel therapies represents one of the most significant shifts in modern pharmaceuticals. This evolution has positioned China not merely as a competitor in the global biotech landscape but as an essential collaborator in addressing humanity's most pressing health challenges.
"What Hengrui is focused on is developing their programs for Greater China. Knowing the geopolitical challenges of Chinese companies entering the Western pharmaceutical world, it made perfect sense for them to align with partners that could make that happen."
The future of biotech innovation increasingly depends on such cross-border partnerships that leverage the strengths of both Eastern and Western scientific ecosystems. How this collaboration evolves will undoubtedly shape the next generation of medical breakthroughs and global health solutions.
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