An overview of some of the top stories from China’s pharma industry, including the arrest of AstraZeneca China’s top executive; Pfizer’s USD 1 billion China investment; WuXi AppTec’s continuing revenue decline, and Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs’ creation of autoimmune disease-focused Oblenio Bio.

AstraZeneca’s China chief in custody, believes unrelated to insurance probe (Reuters)

AstraZeneca said on Wednesday its China president Leon Wang had been detained by Chinese authorities and, although it did not know the reason, it did not believe it was linked to a large health insurance fraud case involving the company.
One week ago, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said that Wang was under investigation and that the company would cooperate with authorities. Wang grew up in China and has been with the company for more than a decade.

Merck sees Gardasil China woes carrying into 2025 (Reuters)

Merck & Co said on Thursday that weak sales of Gardasil in China are likely to carry over into 2025 as the vaccine’s distributor there reduces inventories amid low demand, and the U.S. drugmaker’s shares fell 3%.
Gardasil, which prevents cancers caused by the human papillomavirus, has been one of Merck’s top growth drivers aside from blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda, and much of its international growth has come from China.

Pfizer unveils new China strategy with $1 billion investment (The Pharma Letter)

Pfizer has announced plans to invest $1 billion in China by 2030, targeting accelerated innovation, diagnostics improvements, and support for the local biotechnology sector. The news emerged at the 7th China International Import Expo, where the pharma giant showcased 24 innovative products and solutions, including four first-time releases.

Jean-Christophe Pointeau, president of Pfizer China, said the new strategy would help drive forward the country’s “Healthy China 2030” initiative. Mr Pointeau said the company aims to bring 60 innovative drugs and new indications to Chinese patients by 2030, working closely with local stakeholders to improve access to critical medicines and vaccines.

U.S. Drugmakers Are Breaking Up With Their Chinese Supply-Chain Partners (The Wall Street Journal)

U.S. drugmakers and biotechs have come to rely on Chinese partners for manufacturing, research and ingredients. Now, some of them are looking for alternatives as geopolitical tensions rise.

From big pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca to small biotechnology firms like Amicus Therapeutics of New Jersey, which is looking for a non-Chinese company to supply raw materials for its rare-disease treatment, the companies say it is time to reduce China risk.

 

Big Pharma Doubles Down on China (The Wire China)

While many foreign businesses are scaling back in China, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is going against the grain with a string of new investments.

The Indianapolis-based company is plowing $212 million to expand its plant in Suzhou, it announced on WeChat last month. The expansion, which will bring its total investment since 1996 in the southeastern city to $15 billion yuan ($2.1 billion), came after China approved its blockbuster weight loss drug Zepbound in July. Just days later, the company inaugurated a new medical innovation center in Beijing and unveiled plans to establish a Gateway Labs in the city, marking its first innovation incubator outside of America.

 

With BIOSECURE Act looming, WuXi AppTec sustains another revenue decline while still attracting new business (Fierce Biotech)

With the specter of the BIOSECURE Act clouding its future, China’s WuXi AppTec sustained its fourth straight period with a year-over-year revenue decline as the contract research, development and manufacturing organization reported its third-quarter financials.

WuXi’s revenue for the period came in at 10.46 billion Chinese yuan ($1.46 billion), a decline of 2% from the third quarter of 2023. Additionally, profit for the quarter was down 17% year over year to 2.32 billion yuan ($325 million).

 

China’s WuXi Biologics launches WuXia RidGS for non-antibiotic cell line development (BioSpectrum Asia)

China-based WuXi Biologics, a leading global Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), has announced the launch of WuXia RidGS, a high-yield glutamine synthetase (GS)-knockout Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) expression system platform.

The platform, specialised in non-antibiotic cell line development, employs zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) technology for targeted knockout of the endogenous GS gene in CHO cells.

 

Biosynth Biological Technology opens new state-of-the-art facility in China (BioSpectrum Asia)

Switzerland-headquartered Biosynth, a leading developer and supplier of critical raw materials and services for diagnostics, vaccines, and pharmaceutical industries, has announced the opening of their Biosynth Biological Technology site at Lifebay, an innovative technology park in Suzhou, China.

This new site houses state-of-the-art facilities including a bio-laboratory which significantly enhances capabilities for internal project development initiatives and material supply into the domestic life science market.

 

BeiGene, ex-AstraZeneca exec faces investigation in China: reports (Fierce Pharma)

A senior executive at BeiGene is under investigation by Chinese authorities, multiple local media outlets report. The exec is Eva Yin, according to Chinese business news outlets Yicai and Jiemian. Yin joined BeiGene in January 2022 as its chief commercial officer of Greater China.

In a statement Friday, BeiGene confirmed that an employee is cooperating with an ongoing investigation in China. Based on BeiGene’s understanding, the investigation is not related to BeiGene’s activities, according to the company’s statement.

 

Ping An Health and Medtronic Form Strategic Partnership at the China International Import Expo (Financial Times)

Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (“Ping An Good Doctor”, “Ping An Health”, or “the Company”, Stock Code: 1833.HK) established a strategic partnership with Medtronic (Shanghai) Management Co., Ltd. (“Medtronic”) at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on 6 November, 2024. Leveraging their respective strengths, the two companies will collaborate extensively on cardiac health, chronic disease therapies, and medical clinical training to drive continuous improvement in healthcare service.

 

Bayer Co.Lab welcomes Codone Biotechnology as its first resident company in China (Global Times)

During the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Bayer and Codone Biotechnology (Codone) signed a collaboration agreement, marking Codone the first resident company of Bayer Co.Lab in China. This is the latest milestone in the global expansion of Bayer Co.Lab network, which launched its first site in China just this September. In November 2023, during the 6th CIIE, the company announced the expansion of Bayer Co.Lab as a global co-creation platform to China.

 

Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs Announce the Formation of Oblenio Bio to Develop a Tri-Specific T-Cell Engager for Autoimmune Disorders (PR Newswire)

Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs today announced the formation of Oblenio Bio, which is being formed in conjunction with an exclusive option and license agreement to develop LBL-051, a first-in-class CD19xBCMAxCD3 tri-specific T-cell engager antibody for autoimmune diseases. Aditum Bio will fund Oblenio Bio and the parties will collaborate to rapidly bring LBL-051 into clinical studies.

Recent clinical data from CD19 and BCMA targeted therapies have demonstrated compelling efficacy in difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases. Despite these promising results, there is a continued unmet need for increased efficacy and durability. By targeting both CD19 and BCMA, LBL-051 has the potential to deliver stronger and more durable responses by depleting a broader range of pathological B-cell populations across a wide spectrum of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.