VisionLifesciences
Regional Guides

Top Chinese Biotech Companies to Watch in 2026

A curated guide to China's most innovative biotech companies with active out-licensing pipelines — organized by therapeutic area for Western BD executives.

February 28, 2026
15 min read
Updated February 28, 2026
Vision Lifesciences Research Team, Research & Intelligence Team
Top Chinese Biotech Companies to Watch in 2026

China's Biotech Boom: By the Numbers

The transformation of China's biopharmaceutical sector from a generics-manufacturing hub to a global originator of novel medicines is now complete. By Q1 2026, approximately 30% of all novel drug candidates in global clinical development originate from Chinese-headquartered companies — a figure that was in the low single digits just a decade ago. This is not incremental growth; it is a structural reordering of where innovation happens in the life sciences industry.

The scale is staggering: over 1,200 novel drug candidates are currently advancing through clinical trials from Chinese biotechs. In 2025 alone, Chinese companies signed outbound licensing deals with a total disclosed value of $135.7 billion — a number that eclipses the entire annual R&D budget of several top-ten global pharma companies. For full deal-by-deal tracking, see our China biotech outbound licensing tracker.

$135.7B in Outbound Deals in 2025

China's biotechs signed $135.7B in global licensing deals in 2025, with ADC deals alone representing the single largest therapeutic area by deal value. Hengrui Medicine has accumulated over $50B in total deal value signed since 2020, making it the most prolific out-licensor in the history of Chinese pharma.
Vision Lifesciences Research, 2026

Perhaps most striking is China's dominance in Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Chinese companies now account for approximately 90% of all global ADC licensing activity by deal count — an almost incomprehensible concentration of specialized technical expertise in a single geography. Any Western BD executive who is not actively scouting Chinese ADC innovators is operating with a significant blind spot.

China Biotech: 2026 Headline Metrics

30%
Global Novel Candidates
1,200+
Clinical Candidates
$135.7B
2025 Deal Value
~90%
ADC Global Deal Share

What Makes Chinese Biotechs Attractive for Licensing

For Western business development teams evaluating Chinese assets, the appeal is not simply one of cost. The structural advantages of China's biotech ecosystem now span clinical speed, molecular engineering depth, pricing flexibility, and territory design. Understanding each dimension is essential for building an accurate asset valuation and a defensible licensing thesis.

Clinical Validation at Population Scale

China's massive and concentrated patient population — with thousands of eligible oncology patients per specialized center — enables Phase I trials to be completed in approximately 9 months, compared to 18–24 months in the United States. The time from IND filing to Phase II data readout in China typically runs 18–24 months, versus 36–48 months in the US. This speed advantage means that Chinese biotechs can generate compelling proof-of-concept data for BD discussions far earlier in their development arc, often before Western competitors have even cleared Phase I.

Specialized Molecule Engineering

Chinese biotechs have developed genuine world-class expertise in two highly technical domains: ADC linker chemistry and bispecific antibody engineering. In ADCs, Chinese labs have pioneered proprietary linker technologies that improve payload stability and reduce off-target toxicity — a persistent limitation of first-generation Western ADCs. In bispecifics, Chinese companies like Akeso have generated first-in-class clinical data for PD-1/VEGF co-blockade that is reshaping global oncology treatment paradigms.

Competitive Pricing and Territory Structure

Chinese assets are typically priced 30–50% below comparable US or EU-originated assets on an upfront basis, reflecting both the earlier stage of many programs and the strategic pricing decisions of Chinese companies eager to build Western relationships. Crucially, the dominant deal structure in this market — the "Greater China rights retained" model — means the Chinese originator handles all NMPA regulatory complexities domestically while the Western partner acquires clean, unencumbered global rights outside of Greater China. This territory arbitrage is one of the most powerful structural advantages in cross-border licensing today.

The Speed and Territory Arbitrage

Chinese biotechs routinely deliver Phase II data 12–24 months faster than Western counterparts at 30–50% lower upfront cost. The standard deal structure leaves Greater China rights with the originator, giving Western licensees global rights to a clinically validated asset without navigating NMPA or VBP market access complexities.
Vision Lifesciences BD Intelligence

Top Companies by Therapeutic Area

The following company profiles are organized by therapeutic area for ease of BD navigation. Each entry reflects our current assessment of licensing potential, pipeline maturity, and track record for Western deal-making as of Q1 2026.

Oncology / ADC Leaders

Chinese ADC companies have built genuinely differentiated platforms. The leading players are not simply copying Western approaches — they are advancing the scientific frontier through novel payloads, next-generation linker chemistry, and target selections that are reshaping global oncology pipelines.

Kelun-Biotech

Headquarters: Chengdu, Sichuan

Key Assets: SKB264 (sacituzumab tirumotecan), a TROP2-targeting ADC with Kelun's proprietary Topoisomerase I inhibitor payload and advanced cleavable linker chemistry. Multiple additional ADC candidates across HER2, HER3, and Claudin 18.2 targets.

Notable Deal: $7B+ licensing deal with Merck (MSD) for global rights to SKB264 — the largest single ADC deal in history at time of signing. Kelun has since expanded its Merck partnership across additional ADC candidates.

Licensing Potential: Kelun's platform depth makes it one of the most sought-after ADC partners globally. Remaining pipeline slots for non-Merck targets represent high-priority BD targets for oncology-focused Western companies.

Argo Biopharmaceutical (formerly Shanghai Miracogen)

Headquarters: Shanghai

Key Assets: ARX788, a site-specific HER2-targeting ADC using unnatural amino acid conjugation technology that produces a highly homogeneous drug-antibody ratio (DAR) — a key advantage over conventional stochastic conjugation methods. Pipeline includes additional solid tumor ADC programs.

Notable Deal: Global licensing agreement with Amgen for ARX788, validating the technical differentiation of site-specific conjugation technology in HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers.

Licensing Potential: Particularly compelling for companies seeking a technically differentiated ADC platform. The unnatural amino acid approach is a genuine manufacturing IP moat, not a me-too linker adaptation.

Duality Biologics

Headquarters: Shanghai

Key Assets: Next-generation ADC payloads with proprietary topoisomerase inhibitor chemistry optimized for bystander killing effect. Pipeline spans HER2, EGFR, and novel solid tumor targets. Strong CMC capability with Western-compatible manufacturing documentation.

Notable Deal: $1.8B deal with BioNTech for ex-China rights to multiple ADC programs, including lead EGFR-targeting candidate. Represents BioNTech's strategic pivot toward ADC-based oncology.

Licensing Potential: The BioNTech deal confirms Western confidence in Duality's data quality and IP position. Remaining pipeline assets are active licensing targets, with the company known for BD-friendly term structures and transparent clinical data sharing.

MediLink Therapeutics

Headquarters: Wuhan, Hubei

Key Assets: A growing ADC pipeline built on proprietary payload chemistry with differentiated mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Targeting multiple solid tumor antigens including EGFR, HER3, and Mesothelin with clinical-stage candidates advancing rapidly.

Licensing Potential: An emerging ADC innovator with strong institutional backing and an active BD team. MediLink represents a compelling early-mover opportunity before its programs are fully valued in a partnering round. Watch for Phase I data readouts in H2 2026.

Bispecific Antibody Companies

China has emerged as the undisputed global leader in bispecific antibody innovation. The therapeutic rationale — simultaneous engagement of two targets to drive superior clinical outcomes — has been most compellingly demonstrated by Chinese companies in checkpoint co-blockade and tumor microenvironment remodeling.

Akeso

Headquarters: Zhongshan, Guangdong; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: Ivonescimab (AK112), a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody that demonstrated superiority over pembrolizumab monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer — a clinical result that shook global oncology. Additional pipeline includes EGFR/MET bispecific, HER2/HER3 bispecific, and a CD3 bispecific portfolio for hematology.

Notable Deal: A $5B strategic deal with Summit Therapeutics and AstraZeneca covering ex-China rights to ivonescimab across multiple indications. The Summit partnership drove one of the most significant biotech stock revaluations of 2024.

Licensing Potential: Akeso's remaining pipeline assets — particularly the EGFR/MET and CD3 programs — are highly active licensing targets. The company's bispecific antibody engineering platform (TETRABODY) is considered among the most technically sophisticated in the world.

Hengrui Medicine

Headquarters: Lianyungang, Jiangsu; listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange

Key Assets: The largest Chinese pharma company by revenue and the most prolific out-licensor. Bispecific pipeline includes HER2/CD3 T-cell engager programs, PD-1/TGF-β co-blockade candidates for solid tumors, and a broad oncology small molecule portfolio running in parallel.

Notable Deals: $50B+ in cumulative deal value since 2020, spanning partnerships with Merck, Sanofi, Elevar Therapeutics, Pfizer, and multiple mid-size Western biotechs. Hengrui's BD team is arguably the most experienced in China for negotiating complex international structures.

Licensing Potential: Hengrui's pipeline breadth means there is almost always an available asset regardless of your therapeutic focus. Their established global deal infrastructure also means shorter timelines from NDA to signed term sheet.

InnoCare Pharma

Headquarters: Beijing; listed on NASDAQ and HKEX

Key Assets: Orelabrutinib, a best-in-class next-generation BTK inhibitor approved in China for CLL and MCL. A growing bispecific antibody pipeline targeting hematologic malignancies builds on the company's established B-cell lymphoma clinical expertise.

Licensing Potential: Dual-listed status on NASDAQ provides exceptional transparency for Western diligence teams. InnoCare's bispecific pipeline is at an early but de-risked stage — compelling for partners seeking hematology coverage with validated Chinese execution capability.

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group

Headquarters: Shijiazhuang, Hebei; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: A large, diversified pharmaceutical group with a substantial innovative drug pipeline that includes bispecific antibodies, ADC candidates, and small molecule oncology compounds. CSPC's innovation subsidiary CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical has accelerated its global out-licensing push significantly since 2024.

Licensing Potential: CSPC's scale — a top-five Chinese pharma by revenue — provides manufacturing security and regulatory infrastructure that smaller biotechs cannot match. Increasingly attractive for partners seeking later-stage assets with established CMC capability.

Metabolic / GLP-1 Companies

China's immense type 2 diabetes and obesity patient population has driven the development of a world-class metabolic drug pipeline. Chinese companies are not simply reproducing existing GLP-1 agonists — they are advancing next-generation multi-agonist molecules, oral formulations, and bi-functional platforms that address the limitations of first-generation weekly injectables.

Innovent Biologics

Headquarters: Suzhou, Jiangsu; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: IBI362 (mazdutide), a GLP-1/GCGr dual receptor agonist with an extended half-life profile suitable for once-weekly dosing. Phase III data across obesity and type 2 diabetes in Chinese populations. NRDL listed for existing approved assets in oncology and immunology.

Licensing Potential: Innovent's established global BD relationships and its Eli Lilly partnership history provide significant credibility for new licensing conversations. IBI362 represents a compelling ex-China opportunity in the highly competitive but commercially enormous obesity/T2D market.

Hua Medicine

Headquarters: Shanghai; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: HMS5552 (dorzagliatin), a glucokinase activator (GKA) — a mechanistically novel approach to glucose control distinct from GLP-1 pathways. Expanding GLP-1 and NASH pipeline programs. The company's focus on restoring glucose homeostasis rather than simply suppressing appetite represents a differentiated metabolic franchise.

Licensing Potential: Hua Medicine's mechanistic differentiation makes it particularly attractive for partners seeking to complement rather than duplicate existing GLP-1 portfolio assets. NASH programs add optionality for companies building liver disease franchises.

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals

Headquarters: Beijing; listed on Shanghai STAR Market

Key Assets: A leading Chinese insulin manufacturer with an established global distribution platform, now pivoting aggressively to GLP-1 analogues. GZR18 (a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist) and combination insulin/GLP-1 programs are the most advanced candidates.

Licensing Potential: Gan & Lee's existing commercial insulin infrastructure and established relationships with endocrinology practices create a compelling co-promotion opportunity for any GLP-1 licensing partner seeking accelerated channel access in diabetes care.

Highlight Biosciences

Headquarters: Wuhan, Hubei

Key Assets: Oral GLP-1 small molecule programs targeting the GLP-1 receptor with peptide mimetic chemistry — addressing the dominant unmet need in the obesity market for a pill-based alternative to weekly injectables.

Licensing Potential: The oral GLP-1 space is one of the most competitive and most valuable in biopharma. Highlight's small molecule approach positions it as a strategic acquisition or licensing target for any company without an oral GLP-1 program in development.

Cell & Gene Therapy Leaders

China's cell and gene therapy sector has matured rapidly from early-stage experimentation to commercial-scale delivery. The country's regulatory framework for CAR-T therapy has streamlined significantly, and several Chinese companies have demonstrated the ability to manufacture and deliver CAR-T therapies at scale that Western competitors have struggled to match.

Legend Biotech

Headquarters: Somerset, NJ (US operations); listed on NASDAQ

Key Assets: Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel / cilta-cel), a BCMA-targeting CAR-T therapy approved by the FDA for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Among the highest-performing CAR-T therapies by response rate in its approved indication.

Notable Deal: Global co-development and commercialization partnership with Janssen (J&J) valued at over $5B including milestones. The Carvykti approval represents the first Chinese-originated CAR-T therapy approved by the FDA for commercial use.

Licensing Potential: Legend's next-generation CAR-T programs targeting GPRC5D and expanding into solid tumors represent high-value licensing opportunities for partners seeking a proven CAR-T execution partner with both FDA approval history and Chinese manufacturing scale.

JW Therapeutics

Headquarters: Shanghai; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: Relmacabtagene autoleucel (relma-cel), a CD19 CAR-T therapy licensed from Kite Pharma (Gilead), approved by China's NMPA for large B-cell lymphoma. JW is the dominant commercial CAR-T player in the Chinese domestic market.

Licensing Potential: JW Therapeutics' proprietary next-gen CAR-T programs — beyond the Kite-licensed CD19 asset — are growing in clinical stage. Their commercial CAR-T infrastructure and hospital relationships across China make them a natural partner for any global company seeking China market access for cell therapies.

CanSino Biologics

Headquarters: Tianjin; listed on HKEX and Shanghai STAR Market

Key Assets: A leading vaccine and gene therapy platform with one of China's most advanced adenoviral vector delivery capabilities, built during its COVID-19 vaccine development program. Pivoting this infrastructure toward rare disease gene therapy and oncolytic viral therapy programs.

Licensing Potential: CanSino's viral vector manufacturing expertise is a strategic asset for companies developing adenoviral-based gene therapies who need large-scale GMP manufacturing access in Asia. The rare disease pivot creates licensing opportunities in a high-value niche with strong regulatory incentives globally.

Gracell Biotechnologies (acquired by AstraZeneca)

Headquarters: Shanghai (AstraZeneca subsidiary)

Key Assets: FasTCAR, a next-day manufacturing platform for autologous CAR-T therapies — the fastest documented CAR-T production process globally at time of publication. GC012F, a BCMA/CD38 dual-target CAR-T for multiple myeloma, is Gracell's most advanced clinical asset.

Licensing Potential: While now an AstraZeneca subsidiary, Gracell represents the benchmark for Chinese CAR-T manufacturing innovation. The FasTCAR technology sets the speed standard against which all other Chinese CAR-T manufacturers are now evaluated by Western BD teams.

Autoimmune / Inflammation

The immunology and inflammation space is the fastest-growing area of Chinese biotech out-licensing beyond oncology. Chinese companies are generating compelling Phase II data in conditions including IBD, SLE, and rare inflammatory disorders — and Western pharma companies are responding with large-scale deals.

Connect Biopharma

Headquarters: San Diego, CA (US operations) / Taizhou, Jiangsu (China R&D)

Key Assets: CBP-307, a TL1A (TNF-like ligand 1A) inhibitor for inflammatory bowel disease. TL1A has emerged as one of the most validated novel targets in IBD following a series of major clinical and commercial vindications across the broader TL1A field.

Notable Deal: A $3B+ partnership with Takeda for CBP-307 in IBD indications, one of the largest TL1A deals in the space and a validation of Chinese autoimmune R&D quality at the highest level of global pharma scrutiny.

Licensing Potential: Connect Biopharma's remaining pipeline assets in TL1A and adjacent inflammatory targets are active BD opportunities. Their US operational infrastructure reduces diligence friction for Western partners significantly.

RemeGen

Headquarters: Yantai, Shandong; listed on HKEX

Key Assets: RC18 (telitacicept), a dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor for systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases — a mechanistic approach distinct from existing approved SLE biologics. Also: disitamab vedotin (RC48), a HER2-targeting ADC that became the first Chinese-originated biologic to receive US FDA approval via the accelerated pathway for gastric cancer.

Licensing Potential: RC18's dual mechanism and SLE data package represent a significant opportunity for Western companies expanding into autoimmune. RemeGen's FDA approval history with RC48 removes significant regulatory credibility questions for Western BD teams.

HUTCHMED

Headquarters: Hong Kong; listed on NASDAQ and HKEX

Key Assets: Fruquintinib (FRUTIGA), an FGFR4 inhibitor and selective VEGFR 1/2/3 inhibitor approved by the US FDA for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer — a landmark: the first Chinese-originated small molecule to receive FDA approval for a major solid tumor indication.

Licensing Potential: HUTCHMED's track record of achieving FDA approval for a China-originated drug makes it one of the highest-credibility Chinese biotech BD partners available. Expanding pipeline in oncology kinase inhibitors and immunology represents near-term licensing opportunity.

How to Evaluate a Chinese Biotech for In-Licensing

With hundreds of Chinese biotechs now actively marketing their assets to Western BD teams, a structured evaluation framework is essential for separating high-quality opportunities from those that will fail diligence. Based on our cross-border advisory work, we apply a five-criteria framework to every Chinese asset assessment. For a comprehensive treatment, see our guide to in-licensing biotech assets from China.

1. Clinical Data Quality

Verify that trials were conducted at NMPA-certified Grade-3A hospitals using GCP standards fully compatible with FDA and EMA requirements. Look for peer-reviewed publication of Phase II data — not just conference abstracts — and request source document access during formal due diligence. Unannounced clinical site audits have become standard under the NMPA's 2025 inspection guidelines, meaning quality standards are rising across the board.

2. CMC Readiness

Assess whether the manufacturing process can be transferred to a Western-compatible CMO without loss of product quality or biological equivalence. Many Chinese biotechs use specialized local CDMOs with proprietary processes — verify that tech transfer documentation exists and that the process has been validated at clinical-representative scale. CMC gaps are the most common deal-breaker in Chinese asset diligence.

3. IP Position and Global FTO

Conduct a global Freedom-to-Operate analysis covering the US, EU, Japan, and China. Chinese patent linkage systems have improved significantly, but improvement patents, continuation filings, and co-inventor disputes can still complicate a global launch. Verify that the licensor owns — rather than simply licenses — the core IP, and check for hidden domestic utility model patents that may not appear in international patent databases.

4. Regulatory Pathway Clarity

Determine whether the company has engaged with the FDA via a pre-IND meeting, and whether existing Chinese clinical data is ICH-compatible for direct use in a US IND submission. Assess whether the NMPA approval pathway (if relevant) will run in parallel or sequentially with FDA/EMA review, as this affects both milestone timing and deal economics significantly.

5. Commercial Team and BD Infrastructure

Evaluate whether the Chinese biotech has an experienced, English-fluent BD team with a track record of closing Western deals. Companies that have previously completed one or more global licensing transactions have established term sheet precedents, legal templates, and regulatory frameworks that dramatically reduce deal execution timelines. First-time dealmakers require far greater transaction support and should be priced accordingly in your timeline assumptions.

Green Flags vs. Red Flags

Green Flags

  • ICH-compatible GCP documentation
  • FDA pre-IND engagement completed
  • Existing ex-China BD team with deal history
  • Published peer-reviewed Phase II data
  • Clean FTO on core composition-of-matter patents

Red Flags

  • Manufacturing partnerships with BIOSECURE-restricted CDMOs
  • Incomplete or inaccessible GCP source documentation
  • Weak or absent FTO analysis for US/EU markets
  • No pre-IND FDA engagement for US-targeted assets
  • Co-inventor disputes or undisclosed sublicensing arrangements

BIOSECURE Act: Which Companies Are NOT Affected

The BIOSECURE Act has generated significant anxiety in Western pharma BD teams evaluating Chinese assets. The anxiety is largely misplaced — but the supply chain implications are real, and understanding the distinction is essential before walking away from legitimate licensing opportunities.

BIOSECURE Targets CDMOs, Not Licensing

The BIOSECURE Act specifically names five Chinese contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) — including WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics, BGI Group entities, and MGI Tech — for manufacturing services only. It does NOT restrict: in-licensing IP from Chinese biotechs, using Chinese clinical data for US IND submissions, signing royalty or milestone-based licensing agreements, or conducting cross-border BD negotiations. The critical distinction is between manufacturing services (affected) and IP licensing (unaffected).
Vision Lifesciences Legal Analysis, 2026

Every company listed in this article — Kelun-Biotech, Akeso, Legend Biotech, Innovent Biologics, Connect Biopharma, and the rest — is unaffected for in-licensing and clinical data sharing purposes. Their assets can be licensed, their clinical data can be used for FDA submissions, and their BD teams can be engaged for term sheet negotiations without BIOSECURE compliance concerns.

What you must assess separately is your downstream manufacturing supply chain. If a Chinese biotech uses WuXi AppTec or WuXi Biologics as their primary CMO, you will need to plan a manufacturing transition as part of the licensing deal structure. This should be reflected in milestone timing and cost assumptions — but it is a manageable operational consideration, not a legal barrier to the licensing transaction itself.

For the complete impact analysis and compliance framework, see our dedicated guide: BIOSECURE Act: Pharma Impact 2026.

How Vision Lifesciences Connects You to Chinese Biotechs

Identifying the right Chinese biotech partner from a public list is only the beginning. The real challenge — and the real opportunity — lies in accessing pre-publication intelligence, getting warm introductions that actually reach decision-makers, and having the technical depth to assess clinical data before you commit to an NDA. This is where Vision Lifesciences operates.

Proprietary Deal Scouting

Our Shanghai and Hong Kong offices generate pre-publication deal intelligence from direct engagement with Chinese biotech management teams, academic medical centers, and regulatory advisors. We regularly identify licensing opportunities weeks or months before they appear on conference partnering platforms or in pharma deal databases.

Warm Introductions

We maintain direct relationships with the BD teams, CFOs, and CMOs at over 50 Chinese biotechs. A warm introduction from Vision Lifesciences to a Chinese counterpart reflects a pre-existing trust relationship — it is categorically different from a cold partnership inquiry and typically receives a substantive response within 5–10 business days.

Technical Asset Assessment

Before you execute an NDA and begin formal due diligence, we conduct a rapid technical assessment of clinical data quality, CMC readiness, IP landscape, and regulatory pathway clarity. This pre-diligence screen protects your internal resources and ensures that formal diligence is reserved for assets that can realistically close.

Deal Structuring Support

Our team supports term sheet drafting, milestone optimization, territory carve-out analysis, and regulatory pathway design for cross-border licensing transactions. We ensure that your deal economics account for NRDL, VBP, HGRAC, and BIOSECURE supply chain considerations from the first negotiation session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top Chinese biotech companies for in-licensing?

The most active and strategically relevant Chinese biotechs for in-licensing in 2026 include Hengrui Medicine, Akeso, Kelun-Biotech, Legend Biotech, and Innovent Biologics. These companies lead across ADC, bispecific antibody, CAR-T, and GLP-1 therapeutic areas, respectively, and have demonstrated the ability to close large, multi-billion-dollar global deals.

Which Chinese company has the most global licensing deals?

Hengrui Medicine holds the largest cumulative out-licensing deal value of any Chinese pharma company, with over $50 billion in total signed deal value since 2020. Their portfolio spans bispecific antibodies, small molecule oncology, and immunology, with partners including Merck, Sanofi, and Elevar Therapeutics.

Are Chinese biotech companies publicly listed?

Many leading Chinese biotechs are publicly listed on international exchanges. Legend Biotech (LEGN) and HUTCHMED (HCM) trade on NASDAQ. InnoCare Pharma, Innovent Biologics, Akeso, and RemeGen are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). Public listing status, audited financials, and SEC/HKEX disclosures significantly reduce diligence friction for Western BD teams.

What is the best Chinese biotech for ADC licensing?

Kelun-Biotech, Duality Biologics, and Argo Biopharmaceutical lead in ADC platform quality as of 2026. Kelun-Biotech's proprietary TROP2 ADC (SKB264) secured a $7B+ deal with Merck, the largest single ADC deal in history. Duality Biologics partnered with BioNTech in a $1.8B deal for its next-generation ADC payloads. MediLink Therapeutics is an emerging player worth tracking for novel target coverage.

Is it safe to license from Chinese biotechs after BIOSECURE?

Yes. The BIOSECURE Act specifically targets five named Chinese contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) for manufacturing services — it does not restrict licensing deals, clinical data sharing, or IP agreements. In-licensing an asset from Kelun-Biotech, Akeso, or Innovent is entirely unaffected by BIOSECURE. You should, however, conduct a supply chain audit separately to ensure your downstream CMO partners are compliant.

How do I contact Chinese biotech companies for licensing?

The most effective channels are major industry conferences (BIO International, JPMorgan Healthcare, ChinaBio Partnering Forum), established in-country BD networks based in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and cross-border advisors like Vision Lifesciences who maintain direct relationships with BD teams across 50+ Chinese biotechs. Cold outreach via LinkedIn or public channels is rarely effective given the relationship-driven nature of China's BD culture.

Find your next licensing partner in China with Vision Lifesciences

Our BD intelligence team has direct relationships with over 50 Chinese biotechs. Let us connect you to the right partner — with clinical, legal, and deal-structure support at every step.

Need expert guidance on your next deal?

Our team of life sciences advisors can help you navigate complex transactions, from early-stage licensing to full M&A.

Related Strategic Insights

Our Advisory Services