Key facts
- China's pharmaceutical sector is the world's second-largest market.
- The country holds about 30% of the global innovative drug pipeline.
- China approved a record 76 novel treatments in the past year.
- Overseas licensing agreements for Chinese drugs reached over $130 billion.
- Panelists at the 2026 Summer Davos debated drug affordability.
At the 2026 Summer Davos in Dalian, China, a panel discussion hosted by Caixin focused on the rapid innovation within the country's pharmaceutical sector and the concurrent challenge of drug affordability. China's pharmaceutical industry has become the second-largest globally, contributing approximately 30% to the worldwide pipeline for innovative drugs. Last year marked a record with 76 novel treatments approved domestically, and overseas licensing agreements surged past $130 billion. Despite this acceleration in research and development, a key hurdle remains ensuring these advanced therapies are accessible and affordable to a broader patient population.