China's Rise in Oncology Drug R&D, Decline of European Competitiveness
China is rapidly emerging as a major force in global oncology drug research and development and biomedical innovation. At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting currently taking place in Chicago, a drug developed entirely through Chinese clinical trials made its debut in the plenary session—becoming one of five landmark keynote presentations at this premier international forum for cancer research.
Today, Chinese pharmaceutical companies not only can independently develop novel drugs, but their achievements are increasingly being emulated and adopted by Western firms. For decades, Chinese pharmaceutical science has been looked down upon condescendingly by the West.
Biomedical Publications from China Surpass Those from the United States
Key factors driving China’s rise in pharmaceutical R&D include a vast domestic market demand and regulatory reforms initiated since 2015. These reforms have optimized drug approval processes, established mechanisms for medical insurance negotiations, improved market returns for innovative drugs, and progressively aligned China’s clinical research and publication standards with international benchmarks.
Data from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations show that China’s investment in key areas has increased nearly tenfold over the past two decades. China’s rapid drug evaluation process has even attracted an increasing number of Western pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials there. Data indicate that between 2015 and 2024, out of 393 cancer drugs approved globally, 72 were originally developed in China. According to an article in *JCO Global Oncology*, China ranks second worldwide in both the number of cancer drugs under development and those brought to market—only behind the United States.
This progress is also reflected in the explosive growth of scientific publications from China. In 2024, the number of biomedical papers published by Chinese researchers surpassed those from the United States for the first time.
On one hand, the emergence of China’s innovative drugs holds the potential to lower global drug prices and provide patients with more treatment options; on the other hand, Europe—particularly Western Europe—is facing declining competitiveness.
European industry experts warn that the future of global pharmaceutical innovation may gradually evolve into a "Sino-American bipolar landscape," cautioning that if Europe fails to increase research funding, improve its innovation ecosystem, and cultivate high-level talent, its influence in global medical research will continue to diminish.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1866836711449603/
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