Advertisement
Advertisement

Learn about China’s biomedical breakthroughs, from cutting-edge pharmaceuticals to life-saving research, driving global health innovation.

BiomedicineChina Future Tech /

Biomedicine

Related Topics:
Companies
Policy
Science
Industry Trends
Geopolitics
Illustration: Henry Wong
New medical drugs

6 of the best: the billion-dollar biotechs putting China on the map

China’s biotech renaissance is gathering pace as home-grown innovators strike billion-dollar licensing deals with global giants.

Banking & finance

Chinese company to use AI-powered testing to boost profits and fast-track IVF

videocam
Banking & finance

Insilico Medicine signs AI drug development deal with Eli Lilly

China’s private sector

Li Ka-shing’s CK Life unit eyes China fast track for cancer vaccine pipeline

Sequencio, CK Life’s new Hong Kong unit, is advancing about 20 cancer vaccine projects as China pathway offers faster route to human trials.

In China, investigator-initiated trials allow drug makers to generate human clinical data “faster” than the conventional regulatory process. Photo: Shutterstock
In China, investigator-initiated trials allow drug makers to generate human clinical data “faster” than the conventional regulatory process. Photo: Shutterstock
Biomedicine: Companies

China biotech deals hit record as innovative drugs draw global interest

Deals reach US$60 billion in first quarter after analysts say Chinese biotech firms have shown substantial technological advancements.

Greater Bay Area

Greater Bay Area trails peers in research despite strong tech potential: report

Southern China cluster of cities lags in basic research and original innovation, with talent gaps adding to challenges, Deloitte says.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China’s private sector

China’s obesity drug makers take on global giants as Novo Nordisk patent expires

Patent expiry of blockbuster drug opens door for Chinese drug makers to challenge multinationals in booming weight-loss market.

Semaglutide generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year. Photo: AFP
Semaglutide generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year. Photo: AFP
China’s private sector

Rights to antibody drug from China’s Keymed change hands in US acquisition

Sichuan-based Keymed expects to receive up to US$320 million as a result of deal involving its autoimmune disease treatment licensed in 2024.

Made in China 2025

Global drug giants double down on China amid push for self-reliant supply chains

Multinationals are building self-reliant supply chains in China to insulate local markets from potential trade disruptions, say analysts.

China’s private sector

US reshoring drive casts shadow over China’s contract drug makers, analyst says

Strong order backlogs underpin earnings through 2027, but analysts warn longer-term demand is less certain as US firms reshore production.

Despite the headwinds, there is growing interest from multinational pharmaceutical companies in partnering with Chinese biotech firms. Photo: Getty Images
Biomedicine: Companies

In a first for China, Neuracle’s brain-computer interface wins approval

China’s BCI start-ups, seen as potential rivals to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, gain momentum as regulatory support and new capital fuel growth.

A man demonstrates a robotic hand with a brain-computer interface at the China International Import Expo on November 7, 2025. Neuracle’s regulatory milestone underscores China’s accelerating push in neurotechnology. Photo: AFP
A man demonstrates a robotic hand with a brain-computer interface at the China International Import Expo on November 7, 2025. Neuracle’s regulatory milestone underscores China’s accelerating push in neurotechnology. Photo: AFP
China’s private sector

Eli Lilly boosts China footprint with US$3 billion plan to expand supply chain

US firm is strengthening its China operations amid an intensifying expansion race with other pharmaceutical giants.

Banking & finance

China investors energise Hong Kong biotech stocks. Is foreign money missing out?

Stock Connect reshuffle reflects biotech sector’s growing role on international stage, though overseas funds remain cautious.

Insilico

Insilico Medicine advances Middle East push with UAE AI drug discovery deal

Hong Kong-listed biotech firm’s shares jump after announcing partnership to use AI tools in drug discovery in the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement was reached during the World Health Expo in Dubai between February 9 and 12, about two weeks before the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran. Photo: Shutterstock
Two Sessions 2026

China and Hong Kong should relax biotech listing rules, venture capitalist says

Foreign investors are returning to China’s healthcare sector, but IPO bottlenecks and takeover rules could deter deals, VC Nisa Leung says.

Biotechnology was explicitly included as a “strategic emerging pillar industry” in China’s government work report during the “two sessions” Photo: Shutterstock
Biotechnology was explicitly included as a “strategic emerging pillar industry” in China’s government work report during the “two sessions” Photo: Shutterstock
Made in China 2025

China biotech outlicensing tops US$52 billion in first 2 months

The latest deals are Sino Biopharmaceutical’s partnership with France’s Sanofi and Antengene’s agreement with Belgium’s UCB.

Two Sessions 2026

Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Artificial intelligence

Chinese AI drug researcher XtalPi expects to turn first annual profit

Shenzhen-based company projects net profit of at least US$14.5 million in 2025 on narrowing losses in core businesses, investment gains.

Founded in 2015 by three quantum physicists, XtalPi was listed in Hong Kong in June 2024. Photo: Handout
Founded in 2015 by three quantum physicists, XtalPi was listed in Hong Kong in June 2024. Photo: Handout
China trade

China supply chain expo set to welcome more US firms, launch AI section

Amid trade tensions, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade describes business communities as a ‘bridge’ for exchanges.

videocam
Made in China 2025

Hong Kong-listed Chinese drug firms set to turn corner on rising sales, deals

Chinese pharmaceutical firms are poised for profit growth, driven by innovative drug sales and licensing deals, despite pricing pressures.

Science

Chinese gene-editing technique raises prospect of new autism treatments

Lab tests on mice given the treatment showed considerable cognitive and behavioural functions, new study says.

videocam
The scientists used a new gene-editing tool to correct the mutation in mice. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong stock market

The big cornerstone comeback: what’s driving investors back to Hong Kong IPOs?

After four subdued years, the cornerstone investors that anchor Hong Kong’s IPO market are returning in force, reshaping the deal landscape.

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China’s private sector

Wave of Chinese biotech deals builds with US$1.2 billion Harbour BioMed pact

Deal involving an antibody asset ‘goes beyond a traditional licensing transaction’, founder and CEO says.

Made in China 2025

After boost from viral dance challenge, Chinese medicine firm’s shares languish

Slumping profits at Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical have dragged the shares to about HK$7 in December 2025 from HK$15.62 in December 2022.

China’s private sector

Lab monkey price tag climbs to US$20,000 thanks to China’s biotech boom

The cost of a single monkey exceeds the average annual salary in China and approaches a pandemic-era spike amid growth in drug licensing deals.

Founder Securities expects the annual domestic supply of experimental monkeys in China to range between 49,000 and 52,400 animals from 2025 to 2027. Photo: Shutterstock
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW