China

China gets more complicated as multinational drug makers venture deep into it. Even with a local savvy business partner, Merck is learning to navigate through fast-shifting market dynamics amid policy changes, consumer perceptions of foreign brands, and competition from local firms as it takes stock of its market access, pricing and life cycle management strategies.

Hyloris recognized that the suspension of its shares as part of a broader business fallout has “created uncertainty and temporarily impacted management and organizational focus,” as it got another commercial deal over the line for its Maxigesic IV (paracetamol/ibuprofen) solution for infusion.

With the US BIOSECURE Act waiting for a Senate vote, there are signs it may be prompting some Chinese firms to look at their operations. In the meantime, two legal experts in China suggest a range of coping strategies for companies that may be deemed "of concern."

The US FDA Commissioner pushed for rebalancing the US’s pharmaceutical supply chains while also stressing that US-China commerce has a role that would be risky to compromise. 

Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president, biopharmaceuticals R&D, in an interview with Scrip, outlines how the company is using a holistic approach to define a new competitive landscape in the weight loss sector. She also sees new frontiers for the firm and its potential partners both in China and beyond to jointly explore aimed at maintaining healthy muscle mass while decreasing body fat.

Joint venture business which markets Haleon's OTC drug brands in China will soon be 88% owned by the UK-based firm.

Generics Bulletin recaps the most recent regulatory news from across the world.

With BIOSECURE's legislative progress on pause until after the election, a Pink Sheet infographic looks back on the Capitol Hill progress to date and looks ahead to the potential impact if it is enacted, using Evaluate Pharma data to highlight the likely holes in pharma’s supply chain.

Lilly’s Mounjaro to Pfizer’s Paxlovid, the WuXi group has been part of pharma majors’ sourcing chain. How big is the hole clients are to fill when the proposed BIOSECURE Act comes into effect? Here’s a Scrip infographic using Evaluate Pharma data.

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.