MNC China Lens

InnoCare Pharma secured CDE approval to launch a registrational Phase III trial of its BCL-2 inhibitor mesutoclax in AML, setting up a head-to-head challenge against AbbVie’s venetoclax. China’s health insurance instant settlement now covers over 90% of designated medical institutions, while the new DRG/DIP 3.0 payment scheme promotes “same disease, same payment” at grassroots facilities. Biokin’s BL-B01D1 met its primary endpoint in a Phase III lung cancer trial, Harbour BioMed’s HBM7004 received IND approval in China, and AstraZeneca launched tezepelumab for severe asthma. EyePoint’s faricimab implant failed its Phase III trial, triggering a sharp drop in Betta Pharmaceuticals’ shares. Meanwhile, Enhertu demonstrated superior first-line efficacy in lung cancer, Chugai licensed a dengue antibody to GSK, Macau announced free community healthcare under its new Five-Year Plan, and YimuFeng filed for a Hong Kong IPO to advance its solid tumor CAR-T therapy.

Over the past three years, multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs) have repositioned China from a sales market to a global pharmaceutical innovation hub, elevating China-based business development (BD) teams in strategic decision-making. In the past two years, MNCs have strengthened local BD capabilities by delegating asset transaction authority, restructuring organizations, expanding teams, and optimizing collaboration systems. Two major approaches have emerged: the vertical direct-connection model, which removes reporting layers and improves local project decision efficiency, as seen in Sanofi, Merck, and Boehringer Ingelheim; and the China Hub upgrade model, which positions China as an Asia-Pacific or global innovation center, elevates BD functions, and increases focus on early-stage pipelines.

Just 60 days after the approval of Vanflyta® (quizartinib tablets) in China for FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia, Daiichi Sankyo has entered into an exclusive promotion agreement with Innovent Biologics for the mainland China market. Under the deal, Daiichi Sankyo retains responsibility for clinical development, manufacturing, and supply, while Innovent assumes full commercialization and promotional duties. This collaboration reflects a broader strategic recalibration among multinational pharmaceutical companies, who are increasingly leveraging local partners’ commercial infrastructure to navigate China’s evolving and highly competitive innovative drug landscape. The move underscores a shift from traditional self-operated models toward ecosystem integration, highlighting the rising value of Chinese biopharma firms as essential enablers of global innovation commercialization.

AstraZeneca and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group have signed a joint venture agreement to construct a next-generation biologics drug substance manufacturing facility in Shijiazhuang, China. CSPC holds 51% and AstraZeneca 49% of the JV, which will initially focus on global supply of agreed biologics drug substances, with potential expansion based on capacity and demand. This strategic move reflects a shift in multinational pharma’s China strategy—from market access and product licensing to co-building global innovation and supply capabilities—leveraging CSPC’s AI-driven cGMP manufacturing infrastructure and AstraZeneca’s global quality and supply chain expertise.

Danaher Corporation officially opened its upgraded Leica Shanghai R&D and Manufacturing Base in Pudong on July 16, 2026, alongside the launch of its enhanced “Launching China 3.0” local strategy. The upgraded facility, now part of Danaher’s six regional innovation centers and designated as the Danaher China Lean Excellence Center, integrates R&D, manufacturing and lean operations to better serve customers in China while bringing China-developed solutions into the company’s global innovation network. Gustavo Perez-Fernandez, Danaher Diagnostics’ executive president, cited Shanghai’s healthcare ecosystem and talent pool as core advantages. Now a top global Leica hub, the base runs 19 pathology and 13 microscopy production lines.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced that its anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody, sibeprenlimab (brand name: VOYXACT®), has been officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the treatment of adult patients with primary IgA nephropathy. As the first therapy selectively targeting APRIL (A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand), sibeprenlimab intervenes in disease progression at its source by blocking a key step in the generation of pathogenic IgA.