Multinational Pharma Giants Prioritize China as Strategic Hub, Accelerate Innovative Drug Introductions

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry Dynamics】China's pharmaceutical industry is at a crucial stage of transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality development. For multinational pharmaceutical companies, China is gradually becoming a "key innovation hub." In 2022, an internal survey by RDPAC showed that over 90% of multinational pharmaceutical companies consider the Chinese market to hold significant strategic importance in their global business landscape within the next 3-5 years.
 

Recently, on the stage of the CIIE, multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Sanofi and Bayer have frequently engaged in collaborative activities, underscoring their high regard for the layout of the Chinese market. Meanwhile, many multinational pharmaceutical enterprises at the CIIE expressed that they would accelerate the introduction of innovative drugs, benefiting patients in China.
 

For example, GSK expects that in the next three years, GSK China will launch more than five new products or new indications. At this year's CIIE, GSK showcased two innovative products, including the first complete HIV-1 long-acting injectable treatment regimen approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China — Cabotegravir Injection (Vocabria) combined with Rilpivirine Injection (Rekambys), which can replace daily oral medications and achieve once-monthly or once-every-two-months dosing.
 

Sanofi also regards China as an important strategic market. Since 2019, it has made China a necessary option for global synchronized R&D, continuously strengthening its innovation capabilities. Currently, China participates in over 90% of its global R&D projects. At this year's CIIE, Sanofi showcased Fitusiran, the world’s first investigational siRNA therapy applied in the hemophilia field, and Naylazenz® (Nerlyso), a newly approved next-generation enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for Pompe disease, offering new treatment options for patients.
 

Pfizer has deeply rooted itself in the Chinese market. By the end of 2022, China had participated in over 80% of Pfizer's global early-stage and pivotal clinical trials, with 80% of these projects achieving simultaneous filing and introduction into China. It is reported that within the next five years, Pfizer plans to achieve "All-In" for China across all product lines in pivotal Phase III and registration filings. This means that by 2027, China will be participating in all pivotal Phase III clinical trials globally, and Pfizer’s global R&D teams across all therapeutic areas will consistently include China in the list of regions for the first wave of global new product filings, ensuring synchronized submissions for the entire product line in China (including the Global Lightspeed Program).
 

This year marks the sixth year of Gilead Sciences' presence in China. Over the past six years, the company has adhered to a "patient-centered" approach, rapidly introducing 11 innovative drugs, eight of which have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). During this year's CIIE, Gilead showcased its groundbreaking drug Sunlenca (Lenacapavir), a long-acting HIV treatment that requires dosing only twice a year, along with plans to introduce innovative products into China. These include clinical research on the long-acting HIV drug Sunlenca and studies on Trodelvy for indications such as metastatic urothelial cancer, metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer, and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
 

Roche Returns to CIIE with Nearly 30 Approved and Upcoming Products, Showcasing a Full Matrix and Innovative Solutions; Unveils Six Groundbreaking Global Innovations Soon to Launch in China, Spanning Ophthalmology, Hematology-Oncology, Breast Cancer, and Neuroscience. Looking Ahead to the Next 30 Years, Roche Will Focus on Three Key Areas: Continuously Upgrading and Perfecting the Complete Pharmaceutical Value Chain in China; Deepening Its Commitment to the Chinese Market by Introducing Innovative Products and Broadening Their Reach and Impact for Patients; Strengthening Local Collaborations to Achieve "Created in China," Enabling Future Innovations from China to Benefit Patients Worldwide.
 

In addition, Pfizer has already achieved the goal of synchronizing 80% of its products in terms of research, development, and market launch in China with the rest of the world by the end of 2022. At the CIIE, the company expressed its hope that by 2027, all products will be synchronized globally in terms of R&D and market launch.
 

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