China's Pharma Industry Goes Global: From Low-Cost Generics to Innovative Biotech

China's pharmaceutical industry is rapidly shifting from low-cost generics manufacturing to innovative drug development and global commercialisation, highlighted by a sharp increase in international licensing deals valued at over US$135 billion in 2025. Major global pharma companies like GSK, Pfizer, and Novartis are increasingly licensing Chinese biotech innovations, signalling China's rising position in drug discovery and biotech.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Biotech.