Multinationals including AstraZeneca are retreating from China’s overcrowded immuno-oncology market but one exception - Pfizer - remains steadfast.

A landmark approval and domestic tie-up in China mark the fast innovation that is shaping the country’s health sector.

Two recent licensing deals involving Chinese firms underscore the record level of agreements being inked between innovative domestic biotechs and generic drug makers, at a time when corporate valuations and geopolitical tensions have made cross-border transactions harder to grab.

Plus deals involving Zai Lab/Karuna, Zai Lab/Blueprint, Lotus/PharmaMar, Nippon Shinyaku/Dynacure, Alphamab/Ascletis, Aptose/Hanmi, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals/HUYABIO, KoBioLabs/SPH Sine, CURACLE/ Théa Open Innovation, Signet/XtalPi, Curi Bio/NEXEL, CANbridge/Scriptr and Ligand/CRDC.