Axios: China threatens U.S. pharma (there will be implications to manufacturing basis of phara drugs in Ireland too) Watch this trajectory of change

Posted on March 27, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
China threatens U.S. pharma
 
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Peng Bin/VCG via Getty Images

China’s emergence as a second hub of pharmaceutical innovation could trigger massive changes to the global drug market, including how treatments are regulated and priced in the U.S., Axios’ Caitlin Owens reports.

Why it matters: More cutting-edge therapies are generally a good thing for patients, regardless of where they come from. But the new world order could spark questions over who’ll access those therapies and where money flows. 

By the numbers: China went from being the country of origin for just 8% of the world’s drug development in 2015 to 32.3% in 2024, according to a new study published yesterday in JAMA. 

The U.S., on the other hand, lost ground. In 2015, 48.2% of new programs originated here. By 2024, that number dropped to 37.4%.

During that time, the number of U.S. drug development programs grew from around 5,000 to around 7,000 — but the Chinese programs skyrocketed from fewer than a thousand to more than 6,000. 

Between the lines: The more China succeeds at getting drugs beyond early stages of development, the more likely it is that U.S. regulators will have to make tough decisions about how to evaluate the products.

And Chinese companies could eventually compete with Western ones on price, undercutting today’s lucrative financial model.Read more.
    
 
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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