The 2022 pricing negotiations for innovative drugs organized by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration have slashed prices of included products by 60% on average, a level mostly unchanged from the 2021 round, although 36% more novel medicines were covered.

As of October 2022, China's GloriaBio had reached less than 25% of the annual sales volume expected for its anti-PD-1 antibody zimberelimab and was set to miss its full-year target, forcing a CNY423m ($62m) impairment provision and illustrating how immuno-oncology fortunes can fluctuate in the country.

Four latecomers including Akeso and Henlius managed to record a combined $101m in immuno-oncology drug sales in China in the first half, while market leaders such as BeiGene and Innovent saw mixed results as competition between domestically-developed rivals continues to heat up.

A number of major Chinese pharma firms, including Simcere and Hansoh, brought in more revenues from innovative drugs than generics in the first half, a major stand-out from their domestic peers.