China innovative drug out-licensing deal value reaches new high in first half of 2026, says CCTV

Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings

13/07/2026 08:47

    SHANGHAI, July 13 (Reuters) - The value of China's innovative drug out-licensing deals reached about $110 billion between January and June, a record high, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday, citing data from the National Medical Products Administration.
As of June 30, China's innovative drugs have been out-licensed to foreign companies in 81 deals.
A licensing agreement grants a company the rights to develop, manufacture or commercialise another company's pharmaceutical products or technologies in exchange for an upfront fee or future target-based payments, mitigating development risks.
The deal value has already reached 80% of 2025's full-year total. 
The products licensed covered therapeutic areas including oncology, metabolism, immunology, and neurology.
The main licensee companies came from countries including the U.S., Britain, France and Italy.
Global drugmakers are stepping up their search for China-developed experimental medicines ahead of patent expirations.

 (Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Jamie Freed)
 ((andrew.silver@thomsonreuters.com))