China’s pharmaceutical sector is entering a golden era. Recent data show that out of 169 listed drug and biotech firms, more than 70% posted a profit in 2025, with 77 companies improving year‑over‑year earnings and 20 doubling their net profit. This profit rebound reflects both stronger fundamentals and a shift toward high‑value, science‑driven medicines. The momentum is also visible on the global stage. At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in April, 126 Chinese companies will unveil nearly 300 new‑drug projects—including over 80 antibody‑drug conjugates, 40 bispecific antibodies, and a host of cutting‑edge formats such as peptide‑drug conjugates, molecular glues, cell therapies, trispecific antibodies and PROTACs. A few weeks later, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference will feature more than 70 Chinese oral presentations, with 11 making the coveted Late‑Breaking Abstract list—an impressive leap from just one presentation a decade ago. Back home, policy backing, rapid innovation and expanding overseas partnerships are fueling the surge. The Sci‑Tech Innovation Drug ETF (Huixin, 589120) captures this trend, holding a tight basket of 30 top‑tier innovators and offering investors a focused play on China’s fast‑growing drug breakthroughs.
Read moreChinese biotech firm Akeso is making headlines with its experimental cancer medicine, ivonescimab, a first‑of‑its‑kind drug that targets two proteins at once – PD‑1 and VEGF. In a head‑to‑head study called HARMONi‑2, ivonescimab outperformed the blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), catching the attention of researchers and investors worldwide. The drug’s success comes after Akeso struck a business‑development partnership with U.S. company Summit in 2022, a move that helped bring the therapy onto the international stage. The company says the breakthrough results have paved the way for a new drug application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The filing seeks approval for ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy to treat a specific type of lung cancer that has progressed after patients have used third‑generation EGFR‑TKI drugs. If the FDA signs off, ivonescimab would become the first Chinese‑developed bispecific antibody to win U.S. approval, a milestone that could open doors for more Chinese innovations to reach global markets. Akeso’s annual report highlights that the first three months of the year saw over $60 billion in transaction volume across the sector, underscoring how business‑development deals are becoming a powerful engine for Chinese pharma firms looking beyond their borders.
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