A summary of top stories from China’s pharma industry: Sciwind Biosciences presents promising trial data for its obesity contender; Simcere reaches approval for its Idorsia-partnered insomnia therapy; AstraZeneca inks AI-enabled research deal with CSPC Pharmaceuticals, and the FDA blocks clinical trials that export American’s cells to China.
Sciwind’s GLP‑1 data highlight Chinese firms’ metabolic ambitions (The Pharma Letter)
Sciwind Biosciences has shared late-stage trial data for its injectable GLP-1 therapy, signaling an intensifying bid to challenge incumbents like Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NOV: N) in the global obesity drug market.
At the 85th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, the Hangzhou-based biotech presented Phase III data for ecnoglutide, its once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist. After 48 weeks, the therapy achieved a mean weight loss of 15.4% among Chinese adults with overweight or obesity. Almost 93% of participants saw at least 5% weight reduction, with nearly 64% achieving a drop of 15% or more.
Nanjing pharma company develops anti-insomnia drug (China Daily)
Hong Kong-listed, Nanjing, Jiangsu province-based Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd announced on Monday that Quviviq, an anti-insomnia drug developed in collaboration with the Swiss company, Idorsia, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration to treat insomnia in adult patients.
The approval of the new generation medicine in China was primarily based on a multi-center Phase III registration clinical trial and Idorsia’s global clinical data. The Phase III clinical study in China was led by professor Wang Yuping from Beijing-based Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University.
Bayer extends partnership with Tsinghua University to accelerate pharmaceutical research in China (Company Website)
Bayer and Tsinghua University (THU) today announced that they have extended their research collaboration of 16 years by an additional three years, to further accelerate the translation of scientific research into drug discovery and development across the pharmaceutical value chain. The extended agreement will focus on joint research projects targeting key therapeutic areas, such as oncology, cardiovascular and renal diseases, neurology and rare diseases, as well as immunology. This long-term research alliance underscores Bayer’s continued commitment to investing in healthcare innovation in China and reinforces its goal for continued growth in this key market.
Under the agreement, Bayer will continue to provide funding and support for joint research projects, as well as for scientists at THU, in recognition of their research excellence in life sciences and pharmaceutical innovation. This collaboration will further enhance scientific research exchanges between the two parties.
AstraZeneca inks collaboration worth $3.6 B with CSPC Pharma focused on AI-enabled research in China (BioSpectrum Asia)
AstraZeneca has entered a strategic research collaboration with Shijiazhuang City-based CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group Limited. Working together on high priority targets, the collaboration aims to advance the discovery and development of novel oral candidates, with the potential to treat diseases across multiple indications.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca and CSPC agree to discover and develop pre-clinical candidates for multiple targets with the potential to treat diseases across chronic indications, including a pre-clinical small molecule oral therapy for immunological diseases.
Immuno Cure and PharmaJet advance novel HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine using needle-free technology in humans (BioSpectrum Asia)
Immuno Cure BioTech, a clinical-stage biotechnology startup based in Hong Kong Science Park, has announced its upcoming collaboration with PharmaJet® to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine, ICVAX, delivered via PharmaJet’s innovative Tropis® needle-free injection system in a clinical study. Immuno Cure and PharmaJet held a material transfer agreement (MTA) signing ceremony at the BIO 2025 International Convention in Boston, USA to commemorate such collaboration.
ICVAX employs Immuno Cure’s patented PD-1-Enhanced DNA Vaccine technology, which aims to achieve sustained, immune-mediated HIV-1 virological control without the need of Antiretroviral therapy (ART).
China proposes shorter clinical trial reviews in efforts to accelerate drug development (Fierce Pharma)
China, already gaining speed in biotechnology, is looking to further accelerate novel drug development by reducing the time regulators take to review clinical trials.
In a draft policy posted (Chinese) Monday, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) is proposing to cut the clinical trial review waiting period for novel medicines to 30 working days down from the current 60 working days.
FDA blocks new clinical trials that ship cells from US to China (FiercePharma)
The FDA has stopped new clinical trials that export American citizens’ living cells from the U.S. to “China and other hostile countries for genetic engineering and subsequent infusion” back into American patients.
Officials said they took the action in response to “mounting evidence that some of these trials failed to inform participants about the international transfer and manipulation of their biological material and may have exposed Americans’ sensitive genetic data to misuse by foreign governments.” The statement about the ban on new trials contains no examples of such activities.
Novartis expands strategic collaboration with Shanghai Pharma in China to cover eye drugs (FiercePharma)
With the goal to become a top 3 pharma company in China, Novartis has been busy tapping into the expertise of local drugmakers.
In its latest collaboration, Novartis has signed a strategic agreement with Shanghai Pharma to help sell the Swiss company’s mature ophthalmic products in China, Shanghai Pharma said (Chinese) Monday.
