China’s cell therapy market will grow into an exclusive space for domestic companies, at least over the coming years, after Gilead Sciences, Inc. on 13 September divested through Kite Pharma, Inc. its half stake in a local joint venture tasked with the development and commercialization of Yescarta (marketed as Yikaida in China) and Tecartus in the country.
Chinese Firms To Dominate Domestic Cell Therapy Market As Gilead Exits
Gilead’s divestment from a 50-50 joint venture with local partner, which came to light recently, will leave China’s cell therapies market under the total control of domestic players in the coming years.

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RemeGen is planning to complete enrolment in the global Phase III RemeMG study with telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Chinese firm has already sidelined two other global Phase III trials with the molecule to prioritize the indication.
UK pharma will invest $2.5bn in Beijing R&D hub, build a vaccine manufacturing site with BioKangtai, and partner in chronic disease with Syneron and in oncology/immunology with Harbour BioMed.
While diverging from partner Merck & Co. in its study dosage of sacituzumab tirumotecan, Kelun has garnered the world’s first approval, in China, for a TROP2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, for the treatment of lung cancer.
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