Novartis expects China to be its second largest market by 2024 (Xinhua)

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis expects China to become its second largest market globally by 2024, the head of Novartis China has told Xinhua in a recent interview.

“In the next five years, we are planning to introduce 50 new drugs to the market, that’s drugs and indications. We believe that China will be our second largest market within Novartis by 2024,” Dan Brindle, president of Novartis Group (China), said via a video call.

 

China’s impact the global biopharma industry (McKinsey)

China-originated biopharmas will likely have greater influence on the industry by 2028, but regulatory developments and the quality of partnerships will determine how the industry grows.

 

Chinese Omicron-specific mRNA vaccine to start trials (Global Times)

The application for clinical trials of a domestic Omicron-specific mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been submitted for approval, marking a leading step in efforts to fight the Omicron variant, Chinese leading vaccine producer Sinopharm said on Monday.

At a media briefing on Sinopharm ranking top among global pharmaceutical enterprises and 80th on the Fortune Global 500, envoys from countries including Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan, Peru and Serbia expressed their appreciation for Sinopharm’s support, which was of great help in giving countries access to vaccines.

 

An ambitious innitiative is aimed at addressing India’s need for Chinese critical medicine ingredients (China Macro Economy)

Relying on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients has proved troublesome for Indian drug makers during the pandemic, but it’s a problem decades in the making. New data shows dozens of funding applications have been approved in India to bolster production of crucial drug components – many of which come mainly from China

 

AstraZeneca’s plans for respiratory medicine in China (China Daily)

Global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will introduce a batch of innovative drugs into China by 2025 for the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as severe asthma, chronic cough and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to Lin Xiao, vice-president of the company’s China branch.

The company will also step up independent new product research and development in China while licensing in pipelines through strategic cooperation with other drug developers, shared Lin, who is also head of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and immunology business unite of AstraZeneca China.

 

After Trodelvy’s approval, Gilead signs a deal with Everest for Asian rights (Fierce Pharma)

When Gilead Sciences acquired Immunomedics in 2020, another company owned certain rights to the deal’s crown jewel Trodelvy. Now, Gilead thinks it is time to take it back.

Gilead is shelling out USD 280 million upfront to gain Trodelvy rights from Chinese company Everest Medicines in certain Asian territories including China, South Korea, Singapore and others, the two companies said Monday. Everest could also receive up to USD 175 million in potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments down the line.

 

Sanofi partners with Innovent for the Chinese market (Endpoints News)

Sanofi has found a high-profile partner in China to take two of its top cancer drug prospects through the clinic and onto the big Asian market. And they’re buying into the partner’s stock — at a significant premium — to make that happen.

At the end of the day in Europe, Paris-based Sanofi spotlighted a deal with Innovent to acquire €300 million in the Chinese pharma’s shares, at a 20% markup, with an option on €300 million more at a later date.

 

Sinopharm set to deliver high-quality development (China Daily)

China National Pharmaceutical Group, also known as Sinopharm, will step up efforts in innovation to propel high-quality development that is featured by further improvements in industrial, supply and value chains, according to senior company executives on Monday.

Liu Jingzhen, Sinopharm chairman, said at a news conference in Beijing that the company will better coordinate industrial development and capital market utilization to complete its layout in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and stimulate formation of independently developed new technologies to meet the nation’s need for safeguarding its people’s health.

 

WuXi STA’s new US pharmaceutical facility (Business Facilities)

In the American state of Delaware, WuXi STA has broken ground for its new 190-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus. The project won a 2021 Economic Development Deal Of The Year: Impact Award from Business Facilities.

Announced in June 2021, the Middletown facility is expected to begin operations at the Middletown Business Center in 2025. This will be China-based WuXi STA’s second project in the US, and will provide the Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) with expanded capacity and greater flexibility to meet the needs of its customers in the US and around the world.