1. Scrip
  2. >>Focus On Asia
  3. >>China

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...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip 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
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from China

Chinese Biotech VC/PE Fundings Rise But Still Modest

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

LTZ Therapeutics and Beijing Sungen Biomedical are among the Chinese biotechs raising new funding, of around $40m each, based on their clinical assets with novel mechanisms of action. While fundings have risen, they remain moderate however.

Degron Eyes Deals For Novel Molecular Glue Degrader Assets

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Pursuing first-in-class molecular glue degraders using undruggable targets could eventually help Degron Therapeutics land sizable asset-based deals, CEO Lily Zou tells Scrip.

Ascentage Broadens Horizons As Pipeline Shows Renewed Promise

 
• By Xu Hu

Ascentage will share at ASCO new clinical data on its Bcl-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax, part of the Chinese firm's novel pipeline, on which its CEO shared with Scrip plans and strategy, along with some views on the use of RWD in China.

Strong Data For CARsgen’s CAR-T In Late-Line Gastric Cancer

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

In first confirmatory randomized controlled trial of any CAR-T therapy in solid tumors, CARsgen’s Claudin 18.2-targeting satri-cel reduced risk of death or disease progression by 63% in Chinese patients with gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer.

More from Focus On Asia

MetaVia Sees Obesity Opportunities Despite Challenging US Market

 
• By Jung Won Shin

Despite new challenges related to obesity drug insurance coverage in the US, MetaVia's CEO is confident in the company's novel contender, which unlike rival GLP-1 therapies doesn’t require dose titration.

Public Health And Innovation: Addressing Gaps, Pharma’s Role

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Expert panel including Ashok Venkitaraman, director of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, discusses public health challenges and innovations to help address these. Long-acting drugs, intercepting cancer early and “design thinking” by ophthalmologists in India were among the talking points.

Loss Of Exclusivity Product Launches To Fuel Aurobindo’s FY26 Europe Growth

 
• By Vibha Ravi

Aurobindo is banking on launches of loss of exclusivity products and biosimilars to fuel sales in Europe as it awaits a US announcement on tariffs and predicts high single-digit growth overall during FY26 for now