Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China

Abstract The global pharmaceutical landscape remains dynamic and competitive, shaped by advancements in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies. The United States has maintained its leadership in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies, driven by advanced regulatory pat...

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Main Authors: Ruirong Tan, Hua Hua, Siyuan Zhou, Zhimin Yang, Changming Yang, Guo Huang, Jin Zeng, Junning Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02267-y
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author Ruirong Tan
Hua Hua
Siyuan Zhou
Zhimin Yang
Changming Yang
Guo Huang
Jin Zeng
Junning Zhao
author_facet Ruirong Tan
Hua Hua
Siyuan Zhou
Zhimin Yang
Changming Yang
Guo Huang
Jin Zeng
Junning Zhao
author_sort Ruirong Tan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The global pharmaceutical landscape remains dynamic and competitive, shaped by advancements in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies. The United States has maintained its leadership in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies, driven by advanced regulatory pathways, significant multinational corporation investments, a robust Research and Development (R&D) workforce, and continuous technological innovation. Additionally, global impact of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is further amplified through collaborations like Project Orbis, which facilitates simultaneous reviews of cancer treatments by multiple regulatory authorities worldwide. Europe, while historically strong, faces growing challenges in maintaining its competitive edge, particularly due to protracted regulatory timelines and complex coordination among its member states. In this competitive global environment, China has rapidly transformed from a generics-dominated market to a key player in innovative drug development. This article reviews China’s progress in innovative drug R&D from 2019 to 2023, emphasizing regulatory modernization, clinical trial advancements, and the emergence of novel therapies. By comparing China’s developments with above global counterparts, this review highlights the country’s achievements in regulatory efficiency, clinical trial progress, and the development of innovative therapies such as biologics and cell and gene therapies. Through this comparative analysis, the article underscores how China’s evolving policy-driven innovation ecosystem has positioned it as a growing leader in global drug development. The review examines how enhanced regulatory efficiency, clinical trial progress, manufacturing capabilities, and international collaboration have bolstered China’s growing influence, while also discussing the future opportunities and challenges it faces in shaping global pharmaceutical innovation and development.
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spelling doaj-art-7a67eec510ef40818a55ee0af578ad182025-08-20T04:03:07ZengNature Publishing GroupSignal Transduction and Targeted Therapy2059-36352025-07-0110113610.1038/s41392-025-02267-yCurrent landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in ChinaRuirong Tan0Hua Hua1Siyuan Zhou2Zhimin Yang3Changming Yang4Guo Huang5Jin Zeng6Junning Zhao7Key Lab.: Biological Evaluation of TCM Quality of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine SciencesKey Lab.: Biological Evaluation of TCM Quality of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine SciencesCenter for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)Key Lab.: Biological Evaluation of TCM Quality of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine SciencesKey Lab.: Biological Evaluation of TCM Quality of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine SciencesAbstract The global pharmaceutical landscape remains dynamic and competitive, shaped by advancements in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies. The United States has maintained its leadership in first-in-class therapies and breakthrough technologies, driven by advanced regulatory pathways, significant multinational corporation investments, a robust Research and Development (R&D) workforce, and continuous technological innovation. Additionally, global impact of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is further amplified through collaborations like Project Orbis, which facilitates simultaneous reviews of cancer treatments by multiple regulatory authorities worldwide. Europe, while historically strong, faces growing challenges in maintaining its competitive edge, particularly due to protracted regulatory timelines and complex coordination among its member states. In this competitive global environment, China has rapidly transformed from a generics-dominated market to a key player in innovative drug development. This article reviews China’s progress in innovative drug R&D from 2019 to 2023, emphasizing regulatory modernization, clinical trial advancements, and the emergence of novel therapies. By comparing China’s developments with above global counterparts, this review highlights the country’s achievements in regulatory efficiency, clinical trial progress, and the development of innovative therapies such as biologics and cell and gene therapies. Through this comparative analysis, the article underscores how China’s evolving policy-driven innovation ecosystem has positioned it as a growing leader in global drug development. The review examines how enhanced regulatory efficiency, clinical trial progress, manufacturing capabilities, and international collaboration have bolstered China’s growing influence, while also discussing the future opportunities and challenges it faces in shaping global pharmaceutical innovation and development.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02267-y
spellingShingle Ruirong Tan
Hua Hua
Siyuan Zhou
Zhimin Yang
Changming Yang
Guo Huang
Jin Zeng
Junning Zhao
Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
title Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
title_full Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
title_fullStr Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
title_full_unstemmed Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
title_short Current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in China
title_sort current landscape of innovative drug development and regulatory support in china
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02267-y
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