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

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

 
• By Brian Yang

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 surfacing and 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 subsidiary of Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd

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As biopharma derisks its business with China ‘rebalancing’ strategies, Syngene could convert majority of such pilots into full program contracts amid a challenging FY2025. The CRDMO also expects business discussions pertaining to a newly acquired US biologics site to mature into commercial opportunities.

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Akeso Explains Ivonescimab Prelim OS Data After Investors’ Negative Reactions

 
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More from Focus On Asia

CSPC’s Global-First Monospecific ADC Promising In Advanced NSCLC

 
• By Xu Hu

CSPC’s SYS6010, the first monospecific EGFR-targeting antibody-drug conjugate in the clinic for advanced NSCLC, has shown Phase I promise, but could face close competition with another China-originated bispecific.

NIH Funding Cut Left Less Money On R&D Table, Tariffs Would Add To Woes: Aragen’s CEO

 
• By Vibha Ravi

Funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health, big pharma’s US onshoring moves, GCC partnerships and talks with the Indian government to solve intellectual property challenges are discussed in an interview with Aragen’s CEO, who is also keenly watching the Trump administration’s moves on pharma tariffs

Akeso Explains Ivonescimab Prelim OS Data After Investors’ Negative Reactions

 
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