China lays out priorities for the pharma industry till 2020

In the next five years, where is China’s pharma industry heading to? How should pharma companies allocate their resources to ensure the reward? The answers lie in the recently released guidance for the pharma industry five-year development from China’s top authority – the State Council, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent Wang Fangqing.

The guidance is based on one goal: By 2020, China will have to significantlysecure its drug supply and improve innovation capacity. Over 99% of branded drugs without patent protection should have their generic and biosimilar versions made in China.

To achieve such a goal, measures have to be taken. To encourage innovation, for example, a “green channel” will be established for novel drug candidates to get faster approval for market access.