×

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

By Thomson Reuters Jul 13, 2026 | 2:49 AM

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)