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Uncertain Times: New Lockdowns, Ukraine Challenge Chinese Pharma

 
• By Brian Yang

As residents of China's largest city brace for a possible prolonged lockdown, the gathering COVID-19 outbreak is set to cause some pharma disruption in the country, while broader geopolitical factors including Ukraine are hindering the industry's global ambitions. 

Beijing residents waiting in line to get PCR Testing on March 21 morning.
BEIJING RESIDENTS WAITING TO GET PCR TESTING ON 21 MARCH 2022 • Source: Brian Yang/Scrip

Going into the third year of the global pandemic, residents of China's largest city are feeling uncertainty around potential extended lockdowns for the first time, the impact of which could affect a major research and headquarters hub for the pharma industry in the country.

Shanghai is reporting record numbers of COVID-19 infections, official data pointing to 977 asymptomatic cases and four confirmed infections as of 23 March, while the uptrend is also continuing in the northeastern Jilin province, which reported 2,320 confirmed infections and 528

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• By Jung Won Shin

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• By Anju Ghangurde

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