Multinational pharma firms are exploring their next growth trajectories in China, where some including AstraZeneca and Roche are deepening their commitment by becoming further integrated into local innovation ecosystems and pursuing deals, while others such as Pfizer are focusing on tackling reimbursement challenges.
MNCs want to sit in driver's seat in Changing China • Source: Shutterstock
Since China performed a sudden and drastic U-turn and dismantled most of its restrictive policies related to COVID-19 late last year, biopharma companies are embracing a unique opportunity to catch up but also regain growth in the country. Recent moves show how deeper and localized approaches are being pursued by major health sector players.
A framework to end the Iran war is in place but fractured supply chains can’t recover overnight. Data from India suggests solvent prices have generally cooled from April peaks, but API costs stay elevated or even climbed in June for some products.
Already one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets, China has tremendous growth potential, but significant policy and market changes are rocking the basis of competition. Multinational biopharma corporations cannot succeed in this new environment unless they fundamentally reinvent their business models to adapt to sweeping change.
Pipelines in bioconjugates continue to develop, from ADCs to XDCs, with radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) leading the expansion.
Interim results from the Phase III REMARK study presented at WCLC showed the Chinese company’s second-generation ALK/ROS1 inhibitor met its primary endpoint as a first-line therapy in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC.
A court order encompassing funding, drug pricing, clinical trials and overall policy implementation aspects is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rare diseases in India. Sarepta, Roche and Sanofi are among the key players that have been part of pricing discussions.
The nod will help unlock a national market for the partners’ Dupert (fulzerasib) in which roughly 50,000 people are expected to be newly diagnosed with lung cancer harboring the KRAS G12C mutation in 2025. Meanwhile, two other homegrown rivals are also closing in on marketing clearances in China.
Amgen’s Imdelltra for small-cell lung cancer is one of two bispecific T-cell engagers approved for solid tumors, but data at the WCLC meeting show other DLL3-targeting BiTEs may be on the way.