As a promising market for orphan drugs, China has seen several approvals in this space in the past six months, mostly from multinationals. But Beijing-based CANbridge believes that a smaller biotech also has a good shot at a leadership role, despite a lack of funding and reimbursement and prickly pricing issues.

Agreement between FujiFilm and Hisun sets plan for developing the novel flu drug Avigan in China. Also, CANbridge and WuXi partner in rare diseases, and Kissei gets Asian rights to Rigel’s Tavalisse.

Oncologie acquires PS-targeting candidate bavituximab, which may help other cancer therapies in attacking tumors. BridgeBio's newest spinout will develop former Novartis cancer candidate infigratinib.

New policies including the allowance of contract manufacturing under a new marketing holder system are fast changing the nascent biologics sector in China, where the just 2% market penetration for such products is offering plenty of room for a new crop of startups including CANbridge to grow and thrive.