Innovative Drug R&D on the Rise in China

As the Chinese pharmaceutical industry expands rapidly, Chinese pharma and biotech companies—and even outsourcing service providers—are increasingly paying attention to and investing in innovative drug R&D. A flotilla of returnees and venture capital firms are aiding in these endeavors.

Unfortunately, innovative R&D activities in China remain largely unknown to many outside country. Outsiders are also oblivious to the scope and scale of research, research capability, and robust product pipelines in the fast-growing country. This article will describe the current R&D situation in China and discuss the future development potential.

Up to this point, innovative R&D in China has been almost nonexistent, largely due to the modern pharmaceutical industry’s short history. It was not long ago that almost all Chinese pharmaceutical companies manufactured off-patent drugs. These days, as a result of two decades of sustained economic growth, the country is finally conducting innovative research.

The importance of innovative R&D has been well recognized nationwide. Government at all levels is encouraging research on novel medicines and promises to provide all necessary support. Government grants and venture capital are now more readily available; venture capital investors recently emerged in China or entered the Chinese market from other countries.

Research institutes and universities, which used to be the nation’s R&D powerhouses, have received even more funding. R&D-focused biotech companies are proliferating. The environment is also being buttressed by multinational drug companies that have set up wholly-owned R&D divisions in China, and conduct innovative research locally.

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