Neeta RatanghayraNovember 24, 2019
Tag: Neeta Ratanghayra , china , Biopharmaceutical
China has been relatively slow to explore the space of biopharmaceutical industry; however, with economic development and changing regulatory reforms, the country is fast becoming a top destination for biopharmaceuticals. Between 2012 and 2016, China’s biopharma market grew from $9.4 billion to $22.8 billion, and the market is expected to touch $48.8 billion in sales by 2022.1
Key growth drivers shaping the biopharmaceutical industry in China
Let us look at some key developments and trends in the Chinese biopharmaceutical industry.
Trend towards a Greater Market Share of Biologic Therapeutics
The Chinese pharmaceutical industry is observing a greater market share of biologic therapeutics, especially monoclonal antibodies (mAb) therapeutics. As per a report by BioPlan Associates, there are over 250 mAb therapeutics under clinical development in China, with CD20, HER2, EGFR, VEGF, and TNF-alpha being the main targets.1
Local biotech companies in China are now innovating not only for China but for the global market. As per a Mckinsey report, local biotech companies have approximately 800 innovative molecules in the pipeline, among which 70–80 are in phase III.2 Among these key players, many now conducting trials beyond China, either alone or via collaborations.
Exploring the Biosimilar Space
The biosimilar space represents a crucial opportunity to improve affordability and bring increased access to essential therapeutics – especially in cancer therapeutics. China is also viewed as a potential biosimilars powerhouse; however, compared to the United States (US) and European Union (EU), China still needs to gain traction.
China’s regulatory agency created national guidelines for developing and evaluating biosimilars in 2015, which broadly follows similar principles as the EMA and the FDA. Rituximab biosimilar, developed by Shanghai Henlius Biopharmaceutical (“Henlius”), is the first China-developed biosimilar to reach the market.
From Tradition to Innovation - Current Wave of Biopharma Has Attracted Many Chinese Companies
Though most Chinese companies and medical supplies manufacturers currently work on traditional pharmaceuticals, the coming years may witness the launch of novel biological therapeutics as well as many biosimilars. The current wave of biopharma has attracted many Chinese companies to invest more in innovative drug development. Many biotech firms are building on recent progress in genomics, focusing on rare genetic diseases.
Biotech company | Key focus area |
CStone Pharma | PD-1 inhibitors |
CARsgen Therapeutics | CAR-T therapy |
JW Therapeutics | CAR-T therapy |
BeiGene | PD-1 inhibitors |
Legend Biotech | Anti B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) |
GenScript Biotech | CAR-T therapy |
Zai Lab | CAR-T therapy |
Figure 1: Some of the key players in the Chinese biotech sector
(PD-1: Programmed cell death protein – 1 inhibitors; CAR-T: Chimeric antigen receptor T cells therapy)
Surge in International Collaborations
In recent years, global biopharmaceutical companies have made a number of collaborations with domestic partners. The companies are actively partnering on both the research and development (R&D) as well as commercial fronts.
Opening Doors to Digital Innovation
The widespread use of smart devices and innovative digital tools has paved the way for digital innovation. The rise of digital technologies is changing the way a new product is launched; digital innovation is also enabling greater patient-centricity. In 2017, GSK China and Ali Health jointly announced a strategic partnership to launch an innovative adult vaccination service system. The system included online disease education and consultation, online HCP appointment booking, and delivered convenient online-to-offline (O2O) end-to-end service for users.
While digital advances will have a major impact on the industry, the adaptation to digital transformations in the Chinese biopharma sector is still in infancy.
Government Reforms That Favour Innovative Drug Development
The last few years have witnessed the efforts of the Chinese government to streamline regulatory reforms and cultivate an innovation-oriented environment. Some of the regulatory reforms which may favour innovation in biopharma are listed below:
Chinese Biopharmaceutical Market: Future trends
The robust growth in China’s biopharmaceutical sector is boosted by continuous investment in the sector. Changing regulatory reforms and investments in biopharma industrial hubs are strong predictors of future growth in the biopharma space.
Given the recent development and major economic reforms, the Chinese biopharmaceutical market is definitely an opportunity for global biopharma companies, suppliers and investors.
References
Asia on the move: Five trends shaping the Asia biopharmaceutical market. McKinsey and company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/pharmaceuticals-and-medical-products/our-insights/asia-on-the-move-five-trends-shaping-the-asia-biopharmaceutical-market
About the Author:
Neeta Ratanghayra is a freelance medical writer, who creates quality medical content for Pharma and healthcare industries. A Master’s degree in Pharmacy and a strong passion for writing made her venture into the world of medical writing. She believes that effective content forms the media through which innovations and developments in pharma/healthcare can be communicated to the world."
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