How One China State-Owned Group Became A Behemoth, Powered By COVID-19

But Will Size, Speed, Policy Support Matter More Than Innovation?

Already producing a broader range of biologics than any biotech firm in the world, from antibodies via plasma products to testing assays to vaccines, the state-owned China National Biotec Group is becoming even bigger with policy support and one surprising helper: the coronavirus pandemic. But might it face challenges from innovators and foreign firms in a changing environment?

n95 face mask protection with china flag safety for novel Coronavirus 2019-nCov. wuhan corona virus disease coronavirus quarantine concept. Perfect for banner, background. Vector illustration
CHINA NATIONAL BIOTEC GROUP RISES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC • Source: Shutterstock

Sometime in early 2020, as reports of pneumonia cases of unknown origin started circulating in Wuhan, a key central hub in China connecting the vast country’s capital Beijing in the north to Guangzhou in the south, a team of researchers took an overnight flight to the city of 11 million people.

That team was dispatched to the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic by China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a state-owned...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Global Vision

Turning Defense Into Attack: Snapshots Of A Changing Medtech Market And How To Respond

 
• By 

Against a backdrop of shifting trade policies, the end of multilateral market approaches and renewed focus on supply chain resilience, medtechs are doubling down on innovation in products and processes, and keeping unmet needs and outcomes in the center of the target.

UK Bets On Regulatory Innovation As Competitive Advantage In Synthetic Biology

 
• By 

The UK government has prioritized synthetic biology and created a "concierge service" for biotechs just as the US cuts science funding.

Chinese Firms Build Obesity Clinical Pipeline But Face Wider Hurdles

 
• By 

Despite the ability to initiate clinical trials quickly and having strong manufacturing capacity, Chinese companies are facing multiple challenges in the obesity space.

Unpacking The Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Drug Pricing And Production

 
• By 

Big pharma plans to invest billions of dollars in US manufacturing to avoid tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration. However, the implementation of these plans may be delayed due to regulatory complexities and rising costs from tariffs, potentially impacting drug prices for consumers.

More from In Vivo

EU Medtech Outlook: The View From MedTech Europe Experts

 
• By 

MedTech Forum 2025 was less MDR-focused than in previous years, as macro issues and exogenous threats were forced further into the center of medtech business thinking.

‘Confident In Lorundrostat’s Promise’: Mineralys CEO Talks Trials And Next Steps

 

In a conversation with In Vivo, CEO Jon Congleton discusses Mineralys’s data-rich journey toward an NDA filing, the significance of recent trial wins and how its candidate may offer a dual benefit in blood pressure and renal protection.

BioBytes: Qubit Pharmaceuticals Unveils Quantum AI Model For Drug Discovery

 
• By 

Qubit Pharmaceuticals and Sorbonne University launched a quantum AI model that could slash drug synthesis requirements and enable exploration of previously undruggable targets.