Chinese biotechs Biokin, Dizal, Junshi and Kelun Biotech are presenting four of the most closely-followed oral reports at ASCO on new clinical results for their candidates for non-small cell lung cancer.

China’s Basic Medical Insurance Fund spent 7.1 times more on novel drugs in 2022 compared to 2019, according to figures disclosed by the National Healthcare Security Administration. Meanwhile, such drugs need to wait less to be eligible for reimbursement in China.

The latest China biopharma trends, including recent multimillion dollar deals by biotech firms, companies preparing for the worst as the 'capital winter' lingers, and GLP-1 agents for obesity are discussed by Brian Yang in Beijing and Dexter Yan in Shanghai in this latest Chinese-language podcast.

Higher-dose mazdutide showed superiority over placebo after 24 weeks of treatment in a Phase II trial in Chinese adults with obesity. The potential best-in-class efficacy profile of the Lilly-originated GLP-1 receptor agonist is expected to help it gain the upper hand in the race for the leadership of the country's obesity market, estimated at $5.5bn in 2030.

In addition, deals involving Lupin/Medisol, Junshi/Dr. Reddy's, Zai Lab/MediLink, Kyowa Kirin/ADVANZ, Ipca/Unichem, Jiangsu Aidea/Kainos.

In the private market, eight Chinese biotechs raised a combined $116m in deals backed by venture capital and private equity firms over the past few weeks.