2026: A Breakthrough Year for Chinese Pharma in Psoriasis Treatment

When Zhongmei Huadong, a subsidiary of Huadong Medicine, announced positive Phase III results for MC2-01 cream in adult plaque psoriasis patients earlier this year, it marked another milestone in China's rapidly evolving dermatology drug market.

The topical treatment, which combines calcipotriol and betamethasone using MC2 Therapeutics' proprietary PAD™ drug delivery system, met its primary endpoint with significant efficacy and favorable safety profiles. This fixed-dose aqueous cream formulation targets adult plaque psoriasis, including scalp involvement—a condition affecting millions worldwide.

MC2-01 represents more than just another psoriasis treatment. Zhongmei Huadong secured exclusive Greater China rights through an August 2023 licensing agreement with MC2 Therapeutics Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MC2 Therapeutics A/S. The product has already gained regulatory approval across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada, establishing a proven track record in developed markets.

A Market Ready for Expansion

The global psoriasis treatment market stood at $26.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of 8.6%. China's market has demonstrated even more aggressive expansion, growing from $604 million in 2018 to $1.436 billion in 2022, with expectations to surge to $9.944 billion by 2030.

Psoriasis itself remains a complex challenge—an immune-mediated chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and systemic disease driven by both genetic and environmental factors. Patients present with scaly erythema or plaques that can be localized or widespread, creating significant physical and psychological burden.

2026: A Breakthrough Year for Chinese Innovation

This year has witnessed an unprecedented wave of regulatory approvals and clinical milestones among domestic pharmaceutical companies, spanning treatment approaches from conventional plaque psoriasis to the more challenging generalized pustular psoriasis subtype.

In late September, Ascletis Pharma reported positive results from a Phase I proof-of-concept trial conducted in the United States. The company's self-developed ASC50, an oral small molecule inhibitor targeting IL-17A, demonstrated favorable safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profiles in mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis patients receiving 200mg once daily over 28 days. ASC50 has received substantial biological validation across psoriasis and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with mature commercial potential.

August brought approval for Livzon Mabpharm Inc.'s laikanqitazumab injection (brand name: Laibeitan), which received priority review for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients.

The following month, Shanghai Huaota Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. secured approval for ruixiqibaumab injection (brand name: Huayijing), targeting generalized pustular psoriasis flares in adults—a particularly severe subtype with limited treatment options.

In June, Akeso Biopharma's novel humanized IL-17 antibody, gumoqimab (brand name: Qiyoukang®/AK111), gained National Medical Products Administration approval for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

May saw Jushi Bio, a controlling subsidiary of Xinsuowei, receive approval for ustekinumab injection (brand name: Enyike) for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in both adults and children aged 6 years and older.

Earlier in February, Sunshine Guojian's anmukizumab injection (brand name: Yisaituo) was approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults suitable for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

The concentration of approvals in 2026 signals a pivotal moment for China's psoriasis treatment landscape. New entrants targeting IL-17A, domestic generalized pustular psoriasis therapies, and the shift from biologic injections toward oral small molecules reflect a treatment ecosystem expanding in both sophistication and accessibility.