Pharma: how China has become indispensable

⏱ 1 min read

Background

Western pharmaceutical companies increasingly depend on China for their new medicines, notably against obesity or cancer. The response of public authorities, particularly in Europe, is slow.

The key points

In five years, Asia's share of the global drug development pipeline has risen from 28% to 43%, overtaking the United States and Europe. The finding is published by the Tribune de Genève, based on an article from Le Figaro.

Licensing agreements with Chinese companies now account for 40% of global transactions. Chinese biotechs excel in oncology and targeted cancer therapies.

Key figures

• Asia's share of drugs in development: from 28% to 43% in five years.
• Share of global licensing agreements signed with China: 40%.
• Speed of clinical trials in China: two to three times faster than in Europe.

Further reading

• Novartis: clinical setback cuts net profit by 70%
• Tox Info: Confederation forces pharma to co-fund the centre

Sources

• Tribune de Genève – China: how Beijing has become indispensable in pharma