Chinese biopharmas eye collaboration with western firms

This could help them in promoting indigenous medicines.

Chinese biopharma companies are eyeing strategic collaborations with western counterparts to leverage their extensive networks and commercial capabilities to promote indigenously developed drugs in China, according to a report from GlobalData.

China’s policy reforms are able to foster innovative oncology drug development. But domestic companies lack experience in marketing the branded drugs because of historical experience in marketing generic drugs, said GlobalData’s pharma analyst Bhavani Nelavelly.

“The strategic collaborations with western companies will enable them in using their strong commercial capabilities in promoting and establishing the China indigenous medicines,” Nelavelly said.

There has been a recent rise in collaboration between western companies and innovative domestic Chinese players in all areas including R&D, commercialization, co-promotions, the report noted.

Along with the government policies driving the innovative drug development, promotion agreements with western companies will help in leveraging their leadership position. This will help make indigenous drugs available to patients and doctors in China, GlobalData said.

The report added that Chinese products have a strong advantage in terms of pricing as the local products are promoted through the NRDL in China, which is in turn driving the R&D investment and subsequently leading to innovative drug development.

Currently, the oncology pipeline for innovative drugs developed by Chinese companies includes 580 drugs across pre-registration, Phases III, II, I stages.

There are also a smaller number of deals for the promotion of indigenous drugs, Nellavely said, but this is expected to grow significantly with increase in development of innovative oncology drugs in China.

“It appears that Chinese companies are preferring to partner with western companies over local Chinese companies where the western company will get the marketing permit in the key markets,” Nelavelly added.