Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
China's drug licensing deals approach 200 trillion won
Chinese drug firms signed $139 billion in licensing deals this year, already exceeding their total for all of last year.
The value is approaching 200 trillion won, while South Korean firms have reported about $14.7 billion in deals.
Chinese companies accounted for eight of the world's 10 largest drug deals in the first half of the year, with major global pharmaceutical companies licensing Chinese drug candidates and technologies.
China's share of global clinical trials reached 15.9% last year, up from 3.7% in 2017, while the US share was 19.6%.
This growth is changing where drug innovation comes from and making China both a potential partner and a competitor for the global pharmaceutical industry.
China has also announced export controls covering some biotechnology, but the controls do not restrict licensing deals, partnerships or contract research services.
China aims to supply at least 25% of first-in-class drugs by 2030, though the sources do not describe specific next steps toward that goal.
Chinese pharmaceutical companies have signed technology licensing deals worth $139 billion this year, already exceeding last year’s total and nearing 200 trillion won.
The figure is almost 10 times the $19.5 billion in licensing deals reported by South Korean companies.
Chinese firms accounted for eight of the 10 largest global pharmaceutical deals in the first half of the year.
China’s share of global clinical trials rose to 15.9% in 2025, while the United States remained first at 19.6%.
The article says China’s growing role is increasing pressure on South Korea’s pharmaceutical industry to strengthen drug development and licensing.
- Who
- Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and global drugmakers licensing their technologies.
- What
- China’s drug licensing deals reached $139 billion this year, approaching 200 trillion won and exceeding last year’s total.
- When
- The figures were reported on October 25, 2026, and cover this year to date.
- Where
- China and the global pharmaceutical market.
- Why
- Global drugmakers are licensing Chinese drug candidates and technologies, while China’s clinical research and innovation activity is growing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China’s share of global clinical trials was 3.7%, similar to South Korea’s.
CSPC and AstraZeneca signed a $18.5 billion deal covering rights to drug-delivery and AI-based peptide-discovery platforms.
Hercules, renamed Kailera Therapeutics, listed on Nasdaq after receiving rights to three Chinese obesity-drug candidates.
China accounted for 15.9% of global clinical trials, while the United States accounted for 19.6%.
China announced that biotechnology would be included among technologies subject to export controls, with some licensing and partnership activities exempt.
Yonhap reported that Chinese companies’ technology licensing deals had reached $139 billion this year.
- China deals this year
- $139 billion, about 184 trillion won
- China deals last year
- $135.7 billion, about 179 trillion won
- South Korean deals this year
- $14.7 billion, about 19.5 trillion won
- Top 10 global deals
- Chinese companies accounted for 8 in the first half of the year
- Clinical trial share, 2025
- China 15.9%; United States 19.6%
- China’s 2030 target
- At least 25% of the world’s first-in-class drugs to be from China
1 source
What people are saying
Chinese companies lack experience and brand competitiveness in raising profits in foreign markets, so technology export contracts benefit both sides.
The value of assets is being upgraded, exit routes for investment have been proven, and support from academia is expanding, leading to a reassessment of China’s innovative capacity in the global market.
The development of China’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries is very rapid.
China is both an opportunity and a threat.