BioCentury
ARTICLE | Guest Commentary

China biopharma — enter the Oktagon

The world’s toughest arena for drug innovation; will biotech go the way of EVs?

November 17, 2025 10:56 PM UTC

China observers call it the world’s “toughest fitness center.” Get fit here, they say, and you can take on any challenge globally.

I like the analogy, as it captures many elements of the unique competitive dynamics playing out in China. Increase your flexibility and speed of metabolism, learn new training techniques, build new organizational muscles and confront hyper-committed competitors...