Chinese pharmaceutical companies are increasingly entering into massive drug technology export contracts worth over 20 trillion won ($15 billion).
On October 19, Hanso Pharmaceuticals announced a technology transfer and co-development agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche for its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) portfolio, according to the China Economic Observer on October 20. The contract is valued at over $15 billion, including milestone payments based on development, approval, and sales performance, equivalent to approximately 20 trillion won.
Hanso Pharmaceuticals will receive an upfront payment of $400 million and a $110 million payment one year after the contract signing. This amount does not require repayment. Additional compensation will be provided based on development and commercialization achievements. Hanso will lead the initial development through Phase 1a clinical trials, after which Roche will handle development and commercialization in global markets, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
ADCs are next-generation cancer therapies that selectively deliver anticancer drugs to cancer cells. With this agreement, Roche strengthens its pipeline of next-generation cancer drugs, following its existing ADC products, Kadcyla and Polivy.
This year, the Chinese pharmaceutical industry has seen a series of large contracts. In January, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group signed a deal worth up to $18.5 billion with AstraZeneca for obesity treatments. In May, Heng Rui Medicine entered into a collaboration agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb worth up to $15.2 billion for several new drug candidates.
Last year, the scale of technology exports from Chinese pharmaceutical companies reached an all-time high. According to data from the Chinese pharmaceutical data firm PharmCube, overseas technology transfer contracts in 2025 totaled 157, amounting to $135.7 billion (approximately 190 trillion won). This represents a 162% increase compared to 94 contracts worth $51.9 billion in 2024. The upward trend in new drug technology exports from China continues this year.
Global pharmaceutical companies are expanding collaborations with Chinese firms because these companies are developing numerous promising candidates. China has rapidly enhanced its ability to produce new drug candidates by combining government-led institutional reforms, a wealth of research personnel and clinical trial resources, cost competitiveness, and competition among companies. An industrial ecosystem has formed, particularly in the field of ADCs and bispecific antibodies, allowing for the development and clinical testing of multiple candidates.
From the perspective of global pharmaceutical companies, it is more efficient to introduce promising candidates from Chinese firms than to develop new drugs solely through in-house research. This trend indicates that the market for technology exports from China is expanding as global pharmaceutical companies actively acquire Chinese candidates.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.