https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/520170/feed Latest news and updates on medical drug research and breakthroughs. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The increasing global appeal of Chinese firms’ novel therapies has propelled the country’s rise as a biomedical powerhouse, but China has yet to produce a drug to rival all-time best-selling Western blockbusters in sales. Beijing has set ambitious new five-year targets to boost its global presence, including at least five products with annual global sales surpassing US$1 billion by 2030. The goal is achievable, according to some analysts. Jefferies’ head of Asia healthcare research Cui Cui noted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370340/china-wants-5-innovative-drugs-us1-billion-returns-2030-which-might-they-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370340/china-wants-5-innovative-drugs-us1-billion-returns-2030-which-might-they-be?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen US firm ArriVent BioPharma’s shares plummeted after a late-stage trial failure involving a cancer drug licensed from China, a setback that analysts said highlighted the challenges facing Chinese biotech companies expanding overseas. New York-listed ArriVent closed down nearly 47 per cent on Tuesday after reporting that its cancer treatment firmonertinib failed to meet its main goal in a phase 3 trial. Firmonertinib was originally developed by Shanghai Allist Pharmaceuticals to treat non-small... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369985/us-firm-arrivents-plunge-shows-risks-facing-chinas-biotech-expansion-global-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369985/us-firm-arrivents-plunge-shows-risks-facing-chinas-biotech-expansion-global-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:20:31 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Shares of Akeso surged after British drug maker AstraZeneca moved to advance the Chinese biotech firm’s flagship cancer drug, while a new deal from US giant Merck further underscored the sector’s global momentum amid easing fears of US curbs. AstraZeneca on Tuesday announced a US$2 billion equity investment in Florida-headquartered Summit Therapeutics, which holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Akeso’s immunotherapy drug ivonescimab outside China. Summit and AstraZeneca would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369187/astrazeneca-merck-novo-deals-boost-chinese-biotech-global-interest-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369187/astrazeneca-merck-novo-deals-boost-chinese-biotech-global-interest-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu Competition between mainland China and Hong Kong for hi-tech initial public offerings presents emerging technology firms with a dual-track strategic choice rather than a zero-sum battle, according to an executive at a national cross-border innovation platform. “There is naturally a degree of competition,” Lu Peng, general manager of Beijing-based Zhongguancun International, said in an interview on Thursday, referring to how tech firms select their primary listing venue. “However, the two markets... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3368029/chinas-hi-tech-ipos-its-hong-kong-vs-mainland-how-much-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3368029/chinas-hi-tech-ipos-its-hong-kong-vs-mainland-how-much-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:00:11 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen China has set its sights on becoming a global biomedicine powerhouse by 2030, targeting key technological breakthroughs and at least a quarter of the world’s first-in-class drugs market under a new five-year plan for the sector. By the end of the decade, China would “firmly rank at the global forefront” in biopharmaceutical research and development and applications, with its “core competitiveness” and international influence making a significant leap, authorities said on Friday. The biomedical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367952/how-china-plans-firmly-rank-global-forefront-25-first-class-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367952/how-china-plans-firmly-rank-global-forefront-25-first-class-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen British pharmaceutical giant GSK has agreed to acquire a cancer drug from Chinese firm Chimagen Biosciences in a deal worth up to US$750 million, underscoring China’s emergence as a global player in biotechnology. GSK announced plans on Tuesday to buy full global rights to a “potential best-in-class” T-cell engager (TCE) from Chengdu-based Chimagen, targeting treatment for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. TCEs work by binding T cells, a kind of white blood cell, directly to cancer... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367631/gsk-licenses-chinese-firms-cancer-drug-us750-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367631/gsk-licenses-chinese-firms-cancer-drug-us750-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:00:05 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Imagine swapping your daily cholesterol pill for a single injection that keeps “bad” cholesterol under control for a year, a decade – or even a lifetime. Two clinical trials, one in the United States and another in China, suggest that this one-and-done approach could become a reality. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), better known as “bad” cholesterol, is a major driver of heart disease – the leading cause of death worldwide. Triglycerides, another type of blood fat, add to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366811/us-china-trials-suggest-single-nanodrug-shot-might-stop-bad-cholesterol-forever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366811/us-china-trials-suggest-single-nanodrug-shot-might-stop-bad-cholesterol-forever?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Akeso announced on Wednesday that its immunotherapy drug had outperformed AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi in a head-to-head phase three trial for biliary tract cancer. The result represents another breakthrough for Akeso’s ivonescimab – which has already been licensed by the US firm Summit Therapeutics in a multibillion-dollar deal – as China’s biopharmaceutical industry increasingly looks to compete on the global stage. The Chinese trial tested ivonescimab and chemotherapy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365384/chinas-akeso-says-cancer-drug-beat-astrazenecas-imfinzi-phase-3-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365384/chinas-akeso-says-cancer-drug-beat-astrazenecas-imfinzi-phase-3-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 02:07:51 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Record-breaking cross-border deals helped make some formerly loss-making Chinese biotech companies profitable in the first half of the year, but multinational drugmakers are now signalling plans to tighten deal budgets. Analysts said deals with global partners had overtaken initial public offerings and pre-IPO fundraising as the main funding option for cash-starved Chinese biotech firms wanting to advance the discovery, clinical development and regulatory approval of new drugs. Yet questions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365125/global-drug-giants-grow-cautious-can-chinese-biotech-keep-cashing-out-licensing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365125/global-drug-giants-grow-cautious-can-chinese-biotech-keep-cashing-out-licensing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A research team at Zhejiang University (ZJU) has cracked a molecular puzzle, turning ordinary yeast into a powerful factory for an expensive cancer drug and boosting its production by a thousand times. The anticancer drug vinblastine has long been sourced exclusively from the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) plant. But it takes up to 2 tonnes of dried leaves to yield just 1 gram (0.03 ounce) of vinblastine, making it more expensive than gold by weight. This extreme scarcity has kept... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3363873/chinese-yeast-factory-boosts-cancer-drug-production-speed-1000-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3363873/chinese-yeast-factory-boosts-cancer-drug-production-speed-1000-times?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:10:54 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Thanks to an efficiency edge that transcends simple cost advantages, China is set to see the emergence of a home-grown drug giant capable of competing with global players in a decade, analysts say. “For the past three decades, there was only one global research and development ecosystem, which was the US,” said Fu Wei, founder and CEO of CBC Group, a healthcare-dedicated asset management firm founded in Shanghai and now based in Singapore. “Over the past decade, a parallel ecosystem – China –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363531/china-set-compete-global-drug-giants-decade-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363531/china-set-compete-global-drug-giants-decade-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Julie Zhang,Alice Li Julie Zhang,Alice Li Hong Kong is stepping up its efforts to invest in a cluster of biotech companies, positioning itself as a linchpin in Beijing’s push to reach new levels of innovation and challenge the United States for dominance in the global pharmaceutical market. Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages about US$8 billion in assets and is wholly owned by the Hong Kong government, has built a biotech and healthcare technology investment portfolio covering both traditional Chinese and Western... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363320/us-china-pharma-rivalry-heats-can-hong-kongs-us8b-fund-be-global-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363320/us-china-pharma-rivalry-heats-can-hong-kongs-us8b-fund-be-global-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:12:36 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Not a day passes without someone in Europe or the United States complaining about China’s “overproduction” and “China shock 2.0”. The narrative is of a deliberate, subversive Chinese strategy, underpinned by subsidies, to undermine the manufacturing economies of the West and exert economic hegemony worldwide. Inaccurate as the narrative may be, it is widely accepted and used to justify demands for protection. The larger China’s trade surpluses, the louder the likely clamour from Western... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3362409/chinas-export-success-product-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3362409/chinas-export-success-product-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s emergence as a global biotechnology innovation hub has become a source of strategic concern in the United States, prompting policymakers in Washington to re-evaluate how to respond to its growing influence, according to a recent report by a leading analytics firm. “The country’s latest biotechnology success is strategically important, with implications extending beyond healthcare innovation to include pharmaceutical supply-chain resilience, economic competitiveness and national... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362144/record-chinese-biotech-out-licensing-meets-rising-us-scrutiny?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362144/record-chinese-biotech-out-licensing-meets-rising-us-scrutiny?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A US-headquartered biotech firm plans to seek a primary listing in Hong Kong, joining a swelling pipeline of artificial intelligence-powered medical players raising capital in the city. Axiom Biosciences, which develops experimental therapies for newborns with severe brain injuries by using AI, is targeting at least US$200 million through an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong in 2027, followed by a secondary listing in the US in 2029. “Some of the most important science in the world is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3361283/us-biotech-firm-developing-therapies-infant-brain-injuries-plans-hong-kong-listing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3361283/us-biotech-firm-developing-therapies-infant-brain-injuries-plans-hong-kong-listing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Domestically produced novel drugs accounted for more than 80 per cent of market approvals in China in the first half of the year, reflecting a “leap” in the quality of the country’s pharmaceutical innovation, according to a government spokesman. A total of 38 innovative drugs were cleared for sale in the six-month period, of which 31 were home-grown medicines, said Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Tao Qing, at a media briefing in Beijing on Monday. The approvals, along... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3361181/systemic-leap-chinas-drug-innovation-push-yields-bumper-crop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3361181/systemic-leap-chinas-drug-innovation-push-yields-bumper-crop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma Soaring demand for preclinical testing in China’s biotech industry has created an unexpected windfall for the laboratories that breed monkeys used in drug trials. Beijing-based Joinn Laboratories, a contract research organisation (CRO) dual listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, said on Wednesday that its first-half net profit attributable to shareholders would surge 1377.4 per cent from a year earlier, without giving the profit estimate figure. The biotech CRO cited higher pricing for its laboratory... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3360803/lab-monkey-prices-record-highs-chinas-biotech-boom-fuels-windfall-breeders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3360803/lab-monkey-prices-record-highs-chinas-biotech-boom-fuels-windfall-breeders?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang When the shares of Revolution Medicines surged after the US biotech firm unveiled a landmark result – its drug nearly doubled the overall survival for late-stage pancreatic cancer patients to 13.2 months – investment banks and scientists flagged that the company’s Chinese rivals racing to target the same cancer mutation are significantly undervalued by the market. Chinese biotech firms were closing the gap with the United States as the country “has developed a highly competitive and rapidly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3359811/chinas-biotech-firms-challenge-us-rapidly-developing-ras-targeted-cancer-therapies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3359811/chinas-biotech-firms-challenge-us-rapidly-developing-ras-targeted-cancer-therapies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A handful of Chinese biotechnology companies are expected to bring medications to consumers in Europe and the US under their own brand names within the next 10 to 15 years, according to policy and industry analysts. Amid China’s early-stage drug outlicensing boom, discussions have arisen among investor and analyst circles as to when – and which – Chinese biotechnology companies will start selling their own drugs internationally. Outlicensing agreements typically refer to a company granting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3356232/which-company-could-become-chinese-pfizer-here-are-analysts-top-picks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3356232/which-company-could-become-chinese-pfizer-here-are-analysts-top-picks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma China is stepping up efforts to explore the potential of medically important marine plants and animals, a field already valued in the billions of US dollars, as it looks to bolster its pharmaceutical industry. The country’s first guideline for the marine biopharmaceutical industry, released by the Ministry of Natural Resources on Thursday, encouraged research institutions and drug makers to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to speed up the development of the sector. The road map... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3355313/china-extols-potential-ai-guideline-marine-biopharmaceuticals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3355313/china-extols-potential-ai-guideline-marine-biopharmaceuticals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 09:31:11 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s Innovent Biologics has signed a global collaboration with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer worth up to US$10.5 billion to jointly develop 12 cancer treatment programmes. The Hong Kong-listed drug maker said it would receive an upfront payment of US$650 million from Pfizer, and it is eligible for up to US$9.85 billion tied to development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, according to an exchange filing on Friday. Innovent, which is based in Suzhou in China’s eastern Jiangsu... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3355269/chinas-innovent-biologics-signs-us105-billion-pfizer-deal-12-cancer-drug-trials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3355269/chinas-innovent-biologics-signs-us105-billion-pfizer-deal-12-cancer-drug-trials?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 05:29:03 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has unveiled an artificial intelligence platform for drug discovery that can screen a vast library of chemical compounds, cutting the initial drug screening phase from months or years down to tens of seconds. Developers said they expected the system to provide a novel method for identifying lead molecules to treat tumours, neurodegenerative conditions, rare diseases and emerging infectious diseases, as well as possibly speeding up drug research during public health crises. Called GalaxyVS,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3355029/chinese-scientists-use-supercomputer-cut-new-drug-screening-time-years-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3355029/chinese-scientists-use-supercomputer-cut-new-drug-screening-time-years-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong China has unveiled its latest photonic quantum computer, Jiuzhang 4.0, with researchers saying it can outperform the world’s fastest classical supercomputer by a vast margin, further strengthening Beijing’s push towards quantum supremacy. The results, published on May 13 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, mark the latest milestone in China’s rapidly advancing quantum programme led by a team of scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China headed by Chinese quantum physicist... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3353602/does-chinas-jiuzhang-40-computer-herald-age-quantum-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3353602/does-chinas-jiuzhang-40-computer-herald-age-quantum-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠US Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said, the latest leadership change at the federal health department which comes after weeks of public speculation and a mounting pressure campaign. FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Kyle Diamantas will lead the agency in an acting capacity, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Politico first reported the development. “Marty is a terrific guy, but he’s ‌going to go on and he’s going to lead a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353331/us-food-and-drug-commissioner-marty-makary-out-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353331/us-food-and-drug-commissioner-marty-makary-out-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 18:49:51 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The State Council, China’s cabinet, has published guidelines on innovative drug pricing that a bank analyst has described as the “most significant” in a decade, as they aim to reward drug innovation and ease pricing tension for domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies. The framework document published this month said patented innovative drugs would be supported through value-based pricing, while the prices of generic drugs would be driven down through market competition and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3350956/multinational-pharmaceutical-companies-benefit-new-china-guidelines-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3350956/multinational-pharmaceutical-companies-benefit-new-china-guidelines-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Kamala Thiagarajan Kamala Thiagarajan As Asia grappled with the impact of the Iran war, a major pharmaceutical milestone quietly made the headlines. On March 20, the patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy drugs, expired in several countries, crucially India and China – two countries renowned for their production of generic drugs, which are drugs with the same active ingredient as the branded original but typically sold at much lower prices. Ozempic, first approved in 2017 by the US Food... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3349193/asias-flood-cheap-ozempic-generics-opens-gates-weight-loss-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3349193/asias-flood-cheap-ozempic-generics-opens-gates-weight-loss-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The cross-border outlicensing activities of Chinese biotech firms reached a record transaction value of US$60 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by multinational pharmaceutical companies’ growing appetite for the country’s promising drug candidates. The deal value represented a 73 per cent jump from the same period a year earlier, and accounted for nearly half of the total US$135.7 billion worth of agreements signed throughout 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:26:21 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences agreed to buy Ouro Medicines, which is developing an antibody-based medicine for autoimmune diseases licensed from China’s Keymed Biosciences, in a deal worth up to US$2.18 billion. Gilead Sciences is among a group of global drug makers facing patent expirations and turning to mergers, acquisitions and licensing deals to refill their drug pipelines. Under the agreement, Gilead Sciences would pay shareholders of US-based Ouro Medicines US$1.675 billion... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:51:07 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China’s Harbour BioMed has struck a deal worth more than US$1.2 billion with a clinical-stage biotechnology company to develop and commercialise an antibody outside China, as the country’s novel drug makers increasingly secure not only upfront licensing fees but also long-term international partnerships. The Shanghai-based company announced a licence and equity agreement on Monday with Solstice Oncology, a firm established by a syndicate of venture capital investors, for the exclusive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3344311/wave-chinese-biotech-deals-builds-harbour-biomed-solstice-sign-us12-billion-pact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3344311/wave-chinese-biotech-deals-builds-harbour-biomed-solstice-sign-us12-billion-pact?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:15:13 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun AstraZeneca’s former China head has been formally charged with medical insurance fraud, illegal trading and unlawful collection of personal information, more than a year after he first came under investigation – casting a shadow over the Swedish-British drug maker’s expansion in its second-largest market. The pharmaceutical giant confirmed to the Financial Times and Reuters that Leon Wang was one of two individuals indicted, as referenced in its latest earnings report published on Tuesday. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3343522/china-charges-former-astrazeneca-executive-what-it-means-global-pharmaceutical-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3343522/china-charges-former-astrazeneca-executive-what-it-means-global-pharmaceutical-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A drug for diabetes-related kidney disease could be repurposed to restore fertility for women affected by premature ovarian insufficiency, a largely untreatable condition, according to a study by Hong Kong researchers. The study, conducted by experts at the faculty of medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), found that finerenone – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes-related chronic kidney disease – could be used to awaken dormant small follicles in women and promote the development of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:18:51 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Online retailers and a Hong Kong pharmacy are offering slimming injections without prescriptions despite local authorities requiring a doctor’s approval before purchase, a Post investigation has found, with an expert warning it could lead to misuse. Weight-loss injections, which have been approved by Hong Kong authorities for use, have become increasingly popular around the world and work by targeting hormones, reducing appetite and slowing down food digestion. In Hong Kong, such products are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341117/no-prescription-no-problem-hong-kongs-grey-zone-weight-loss-injections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341117/no-prescription-no-problem-hong-kongs-grey-zone-weight-loss-injections?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:08:58 +0000 Reuters Reuters Many patients using highly effective GLP-1 drugs may not regain lost weight quickly when they stop treatment, ‌according to an analysis of real-world data that sheds light on a chief concern about the therapies. Among thousands of patients treated at a ‍large network of academic medical clinics in the United States, most had kept the weight off or lost even more 18 months after stopping semaglutide, sold by Novo Nordisk as Ozempic and Wegovy, or tirzepatide, sold by Eli Lilly as Mounjaro and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340941/stopping-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-often-does-not-mean-weight-regain-us-research-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340941/stopping-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-often-does-not-mean-weight-regain-us-research-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:15:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s pharmaceutical industry, whose revenue is projected to rise by 50 per cent between 2024 and 2030, has emerged as a new growth engine for the national economy as leading players ramp up investment in research and production. The country’s drug and medical device businesses were forecast to top US$2.1 trillion in revenue by 2030 and US$3.2 trillion annually by 2050, according to estimates by UBS. In 2024, the sector generated about US$1.4 trillion in sales. “An ageing population offers the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3340333/chinas-drug-and-medical-device-sector-emerges-new-engine-economic-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3340333/chinas-drug-and-medical-device-sector-emerges-new-engine-economic-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:00:27 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A partnership between China’s SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals and Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Monday has revived hopes for treating Alzheimer’s disease, which affects some 55 million people worldwide and could cost the global economy US$2.8 trillion by 2030. The deal, worth nearly US$1.7 billion, grants Novartis exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise SciNeuro’s antibody candidates to develop drugs for the progressive brain disease. SciNeuro’s novel amyloid beta targeted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339691/chinas-scineuro-novartis-sign-us17-billion-licensing-deal-develop-alzheimers-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339691/chinas-scineuro-novartis-sign-us17-billion-licensing-deal-develop-alzheimers-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:11:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Irina Zhou’s five-year-old cat has gained about a kilogram every year for the past three years. She knows the extra weight puts her pet at risk of obesity-related diseases and could even shorten his life. “My parents just can’t bear to see the cat go hungry,” the 29-year-old Zhou said. “If the weight starts to affect his health, I might consider trying weight-loss medicines for him.” The idea of using obesity drugs for pets drew public attention after Fosun Pharma’s unit Yao Pharma signed a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3338820/meow-or-never-chinas-pudgy-pets-spark-race-weight-loss-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3338820/meow-or-never-chinas-pudgy-pets-spark-race-weight-loss-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:30:10 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Hangzhou-based biotech start-up MindRank has progressed to Phase 3 clinical trials for its weight-loss drug, making it China’s first artificial intelligence-assisted Category 1 new drug to reach this stage. MindRank announced last month that it had initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial in China for MDR-001, a small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists designed with the help of AI. GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic natural hormones to regulate blood sugar and appetite. According to Niu Zhangming, MindRank’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338618/mindrank-phase-3-trial-chinas-first-ai-assisted-new-drug-cutting-rd-costs-60?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338618/mindrank-phase-3-trial-chinas-first-ai-assisted-new-drug-cutting-rd-costs-60?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s biopharmaceutical sector is said to have entered an “innovation 2.0” phase as it moves to a commercialisation mindset that could see it sideline global competitors and outpace the US – despite restrictive trade policies. In recent years, innovative drug development in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market has rapidly approached – and in some cases surpassed – that of the United States, the world’s biggest market. Growing concerns over China’s biotech capabilities have led the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3338481/chinas-biopharma-sector-prime-position-challenge-us-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3338481/chinas-biopharma-sector-prime-position-challenge-us-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Genomic sequencing has helped Hong Kong identify the right treatments for cancer patients more quickly, according to an expert who also suggested that the city could be a “super-linker” between mainland China and the rest of the world in drug development. Aya El Helali, a clinician-scientist in medical oncology at the University of Hong Kong, praised how collaboration within the Greater Bay Area had opened up opportunities to run clinical trials faster and at lower costs – factors that appealed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337799/genomic-sequencing-puts-hong-kong-forefront-cancer-care-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337799/genomic-sequencing-puts-hong-kong-forefront-cancer-care-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A foodie, social butterfly and New Yorker for 20 years, Lina Axmacher has loved exploring the city’s famed restaurant culture for a long time. Then she started the GLP-1 weight-loss drug semaglutide. She lost her appetite – “my desire for cocktails and desserts and anything sweet” – and more than 9kg in less than two months. “I still wanted to maintain my social lifestyle, and I still wanted to be included in dinners,” she said. One of her favourite restaurants, Manhattan’s Le Petit Village,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337490/weight-loss-drugs-reduce-appetites-us-restaurants-cut-portion-sizes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337490/weight-loss-drugs-reduce-appetites-us-restaurants-cut-portion-sizes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. The US Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drug maker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, was still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337435/no-need-needles-us-approves-wegovy-pill-weight-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337435/no-need-needles-us-approves-wegovy-pill-weight-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:55:15 +0000 Julie Zhang,Eunice Xu Julie Zhang,Eunice Xu If pharmaceutical drug patents are an hourglass turned over on the day of approval – with the approaching loss of exclusivity known in the industry as the “patent cliff” – then Big Pharma is currently watching the final grains of sand slipping through the neck of the glass. At the bottom of the hourglass awaits an unforgiving world of generic and biosimilar competition. Between 2025 and 2030, the patent cliff is set to be one of the biggest since 2010 by revenue at risk, according to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3337038/patent-cliffhanger-will-china-biotech-throw-big-pharma-lifeline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3337038/patent-cliffhanger-will-china-biotech-throw-big-pharma-lifeline?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China is gaining a solid reputation as a pharmaceutical innovation hub, shifting from a copycat drug maker to one whose infrastructure and research and development capabilities rival global pharmaceutical behemoths, according to a global consultancy. US-based SAI MedPartners and its unit Idea Pharma recently launched a new index with the aim of highlighting Chinese drug makers and recognising their shift from generics to “true” innovation. The consultancy released the China Pharmaceutical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3336851/chinas-pharmaceutical-sector-moves-big-leagues-global-innovation-powerhouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3336851/chinas-pharmaceutical-sector-moves-big-leagues-global-innovation-powerhouse?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng In an attempt to solve the global fertility crisis, Chinese scientists have developed a balm for testicles they say can boost sperm activity. The lotion they developed for external application significantly enhanced sperm quality in both animal trials and in vitro studies, regardless of whether the decline in function was caused by exposure to heavy metals, plasticisers, heat stress or natural ageing, the researchers said. The findings of the study, conducted by researchers from several domestic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3336452/worldwide-sperm-quality-decline-can-easy-use-balm-china-solve-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3336452/worldwide-sperm-quality-decline-can-easy-use-balm-china-solve-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:31:34 +0000 Kamala Thiagarajan Kamala Thiagarajan China’s pharmaceutical industry is on the brink of enormous growth and transformation. In just a few years, it has moved on from being the world’s cheapest source of active pharmaceutical ingredients to becoming a major hub for pharmaceutical innovation – a place where new, more effective drugs are born. It is now the second-largest developer of drugs, trailing only the United States. In the global drug development pipeline, China’s growth rate is phenomenal, leaping from 3 per cent in 2013 to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334948/how-china-went-generic-drug-factory-biomedicine-innovator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334948/how-china-went-generic-drug-factory-biomedicine-innovator?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Eric Ng,Julie Zhang Eric Ng,Julie Zhang The ferocity of China’s biopharmaceutical investment boom this year – fuelled by record-breaking licensing of commercial rights to global giants after a three-year slump – may have surprised casual observers. But according to Helen Chen, one of the most respected analysts and advisers in China’s life sciences space, the supercharged sector’s real renaissance came two years earlier. In December 2022, US drug maker MSD agreed to license global (excluding China) rights to develop and commercialise... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3331950/six-best-how-chinas-new-biotech-vanguard-banking-billions-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3331950/six-best-how-chinas-new-biotech-vanguard-banking-billions-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 03:00:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Fosun Pharmaceutical, a leading healthcare group, has taken a substantial step towards introducing particle therapy systems to hospitals in mainland China, aligning with Beijing’s efforts to make advanced medical treatment accessible to cancer patients across the country. The Shanghai-based company, a subsidiary of China’s non-state-owned conglomerate Fosun International, formed a partnership with Leo Cancer Care on Thursday, pledging to distribute the UK firm’s Marie medical facilities in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3331824/fosun-brings-uk-particle-therapy-mainland-china-push-advanced-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3331824/fosun-brings-uk-particle-therapy-mainland-china-push-advanced-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:30:16 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), a fast-growing next-generation cancer treatment, have become an investment hotspot due to its potential to become mainstream globally, according to biopharmaceutical industry insiders. To achieve sustainable growth and maximise revenue potential, companies should pursue differentiated product development and a global clinical strategy, according to Duality Biotherapeutics, which organised a biotech forum in Shanghai last week. The Shanghai-based company – which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3330377/china-biotech-forum-bills-antibody-cancer-drugs-next-generation-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3330377/china-biotech-forum-bills-antibody-cancer-drugs-next-generation-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Shares of Chinese drug firm Akeso – likened by some Western media outlets to artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek – rose after the company unveiled clinical-trial data showing that its lung-cancer drug outperformed a highly effective existing treatment. The data showed that ivonescimab had “a decisive and strong positive outcome with both significant and clinically meaningful benefits”, Akeso said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday. The drug, used along with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3329639/chinas-akeso-dubbed-biotechs-deepseek-gets-share-boost-cancer-drug-trial-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3329639/chinas-akeso-dubbed-biotechs-deepseek-gets-share-boost-cancer-drug-trial-data?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:12 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Two Chinese drug developers have signed licensing deals that could yield as much as US$2.5 billion in performance-based payments, underscoring growing international confidence in China’s life sciences sector. Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group has agreed to license global rights – excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan – to develop and market a colon cancer drug candidate to F Hoffmann-La Roche, a unit of Swiss-based biotech giant Roche. Hansoh, a major psychotropic and cancer drugs... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3329353/chinas-hansoh-and-leads-biolabs-clinch-us25-billion-global-drug-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3329353/chinas-hansoh-and-leads-biolabs-clinch-us25-billion-global-drug-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:06:08 +0000