China's pharmaceutical sector marks a 'breakthrough era'

Online pharmaceutical platform PharmaCube has released a new report tracing the sweeping evolution of China's innovative drug commercialization over the past decade, marking what it calls a "breakthrough era" for the country's biopharmaceutical industry.

Titled "From Breakthroughs in R&D to Value Realization: A Decade-long Commercialization of Innovative Drugs in China", the report reviews how shifting policies and market forces have reshaped the sector from 2015 to 2024. It also examines new business models emerging from that transformation and offers a glimpse of what may come next.

According to PharmaCube, the past 10 years have seen China's drug industry move from a market dominated by generics and limited access to a far more dynamic landscape—one where innovative therapies are increasingly homegrown, accessible, and affordable.

"We've witnessed a genuine turning point," the company said. "The focus on 'clinical value' and 'patient accessibility' has not only changed how drugs reach the market, but also renewed hope for millions of patients."

The data back that up. Innovative drugs now account for over 30 percent of market share in China's core hospitals, up from just above 20 percent in 2015, according to PharmCube data. Domestic companies, once overshadowed by multinational giants, have made substantial headway. At the same time, sales channels have diversified spreading beyond large hospitals into retail pharmacies, online platforms, and even community clinics.

Policy reform has played a decisive role. Over the decade, regulators have streamlined drug approvals and improved evaluation efficiency, while national hospital centralized procurement and medical insurance reforms have made innovative drugs more affordable and widely available.

Still, PharmaCube noted that progress brings its own set of pressures. Companies are now expected to be nimbler, coordinating internally, managing product lifecycles with precision, and responding quickly to market and regulatory shifts.

"As China's pharmaceutical sector steps into its next phase, opportunities abound—but so do the challenges," the report said. "Turning scientific breakthroughs into real-world value will test every player's resilience and strategy."

PharmaCube said it hopes the report will help industry stakeholders navigate this new terrain, bridging the gap between research excellence and commercial success in China's fast-evolving drug market.