Leading multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies continue to strengthen their presence in China through strategic investments, innovation partnerships, product launches, and healthcare initiatives. Recent developments highlight China's growing role as a key hub for global healthcare innovation and industry collaboration.

Bayer Expands Consumer Health Innovation Network in China

On June 3, Bayer Consumer Health officially launched its China Consumer Health Innovation Partnership (CCIP) Center at the National (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Food and Drug Innovation and Regulatory Service Platform in Jinan.

The launch marks a significant expansion of Bayer's innovation ecosystem in China following the establishment of the first CCIP center in Shanghai in October 2024. The center will focus on expanding collaboration opportunities in key therapeutic areas including skin health and digestive health.

During the event, Bayer Consumer Health, the Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, and Shandong Jingwei Pharmaceutical signed a strategic cooperation agreement covering consumer insights, technology-driven research and development, manufacturing, and quality assurance. Bayer also signed a product research collaboration agreement with Jingwei Pharmaceutical and a memorandum of cooperation with Freda to explore innovation opportunities in skin health.

Merck Opens Greater Bay Area Innovation and Collaboration Center

Merck announced the completion and official opening of its Greater Bay Area Innovation and Collaboration Center in Nanshan District, Shenzhen.

The center is designed to serve as Merck's innovation and R&D platform in China, focusing on life sciences and healthcare industries. By integrating global innovation resources, the facility aims to accelerate the development of innovative medicines, biotechnology solutions, and advanced healthcare technologies.

ZEISS Breaks Ground on Greater China Headquarters Campus

ZEISS has officially commenced construction of its Greater China Headquarters Integrated Campus in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone of Shanghai.

Covering more than 50,000 square meters, the campus will integrate research and development, corporate management, customer experience, and high-end manufacturing functions. It represents ZEISS's largest single infrastructure investment in China to date.

At the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), ZEISS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Shanghai Technology Innovation Center, officially joining Shanghai's innovation network and confirming the establishment of its Greater China headquarters campus in Pudong.

Philips Surpasses 6,000 Imaging-Guided Therapy Systems Installed in China

During the 20th Oriental Congress of Cardiology, Philips announced that installations of its image-guided therapy systems in China have exceeded 6,000 units.

The platform integrates key technologies including SmartCT, EchoNavigator, VesselNavigator, DoseWise, and 3D Roadmap. Through continuous optimization of clinical workflows and user interfaces, the system has evolved from a procedural tool into a comprehensive intraoperative decision-support platform.

Advanced clinical algorithms help maintain high image quality while reducing radiation exposure and contrast agent usage by up to 83%, lowering the risk of kidney complications and improving patient safety.

SK Hynix Advances International Hospital Project in Wuxi

At the Wuxi Healthcare Development Conference, Wuxi Healthcare Group, Wuxi High-Tech Zone Cultural and Tourism Group, and SK Hynix signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advance the Wuxi Hynix International Hospital project.

The hospital is planned to feature five specialized centers focusing on:

• Medical aesthetics
• Oncology care
• Dental medicine
• Health screening
• Biopharmaceutical incubation

Construction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Johnson & Johnson Strengthens Disease Management and Clinical Training Initiatives

Ahead of China's 14th Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Day, Johnson & Johnson MedTech and DXY jointly released the "100 Questions and Answers About Atrial Fibrillation" communication toolkit.

Based on authoritative clinical guidelines, evidence-based medicine, and expert experience, the resource compiles 100 commonly asked patient questions to support more effective physician-patient communication.

Johnson & Johnson also upgraded its Functional Cure Initiative for Hematologic Malignancies, supported by the People's Good Doctor Platform. The enhanced program introduces a nutrition support initiative featuring patient-friendly meal plans developed by hematology, nutrition, and nursing specialists across China.

In addition, with support from Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Shanghai General Hospital officially established China's first MONARCH Robotic Technology Demonstration Training Center. The center will provide standardized training in robotic-assisted pulmonary diagnostics and treatment to advance early lung cancer detection and minimally invasive interventions.

Biond Biologics and GIBF Establish Strategic Partnership

Biond Biologics Ltd and the Guangzhou Israel Bio-Industry Investment Fund (GIBF) announced an $8 million strategic investment and the formation of a joint venture in China.

The new company will focus on advancing Biond's innovative oncology pipeline, including:

• BND-67, a first-in-class therapy targeting CD28 shedding
• BND-22, an anti-ILT2 antibody currently in Phase II clinical trials
• Additional oncology assets under development

The partnership combines Biond's differentiated cancer research platform with GIBF's expertise in clinical development, regulatory strategy, and biotechnology commercialization within China.

Eisai Continues Support for Medical Education

A donation ceremony for the Chongqing Medical University–Eisai China Scholarship Program was recently held at the Department of Psychiatry, The First Clinical College of Chongqing Medical University.

Eisai China donated RMB 500,000 to support student development and scholarship programs within the department.

Since 2000, Eisai China has established scholarship programs at ten Chinese medical universities, contributing more than RMB 13 million and supporting over 3,600 outstanding students.

EssilorLuxottica Launches China's First AI Optometry Assistant

During the Vision China 2026 International Conference on Vision Health Innovation and Development, EssilorLuxottica joined leading optometry experts to launch the China Comprehensive Eye Health Management Initiative.

At the same event, the Asian Optometric Management Association (AOMA) initiated the development of the first International Expert Consensus on Comprehensive Eye Health Management.

The company also unveiled China's first AI-powered optometry assistant developed in partnership with Tencent Health. The system incorporates more than 600 million tokens of ophthalmology knowledge and has been trained on over 200 expert consensus documents, clinical guidelines, and industry standards, delivering responses with significantly enhanced professional depth compared to general AI models.

Bausch + Lomb Highlights Innovation in Eye Health

At Vision China 2026, Bausch + Lomb showcased its full portfolio from both pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare divisions.

The company focused on three major eye health challenges:

• Eye fatigue
• Dry eye disease
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Featured products included Jinrunjie Compound Naphazoline Eye Drops, Runjie Sodium Cromoglycate Eye Drops, Artelac Ultra 4S Trehalose Artificial Tears, and Lifitegrast Eye Drops.

The company promoted a comprehensive eye care strategy combining precision topical treatment with science-based nutritional support.

Industry Developments

Haisco and Eli Lilly Enter Multi-Target Drug Discovery Partnership

Haisco announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Haisco Pharmaceutical Technology (Lhasa), signed a License and Research Collaboration Agreement with Eli Lilly.

The partnership covers the discovery and early-stage development of up to five innovative drug targets across multiple therapeutic areas.

Under the agreement, Haisco may receive:

• Up to $87 million in upfront and near-term payments
• Up to $2.967 billion in milestone payments
• Tiered royalties on future product sales

Everest Medicines and Travere Therapeutics Sign Global Licensing Agreement

Everest Medicines announced an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Travere Therapeutics.

Under the agreement, Travere obtains exclusive development and commercialization rights for EVER001 (civorebrutinib) outside Greater China and selected Southeast Asian markets.

Everest Medicines is eligible to receive:

• $112.5 million upfront payment
• Up to $1.03 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones
• Tiered royalties based on future net sales

Peijia Medical Secures Exclusive Distribution Rights for B. Braun Product

Peijia Medical's subsidiary, Jakin Biotechnology, entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with B. Braun Medical.

The agreement grants Jakin Biotechnology exclusive distribution rights in mainland China for the SeQuent Please CIS Paclitaxel-Coated Intracranial Balloon Catheter.

Merck Launches First-in-Class PAH Therapy in China

Merck announced the official launch in China of Winrevair® (sotatercept for injection), the world's first biologic therapy targeting the underlying pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The treatment is approved for adults with WHO Functional Class II–III PAH and represents a major advancement in disease-modifying therapy for PAH.

AstraZeneca's Benralizumab Receives New Indication Approval

China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved a new indication for AstraZeneca's benralizumab.

The therapy is now approved for the treatment of eosinophilic syndromes in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older without an identifiable secondary non-hematologic cause.

Roche's Obinutuzumab Accepted for Priority Review

According to China's Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), Roche's obinutuzumab injection has been accepted for priority review for the treatment of adults with primary membranous nephropathy (pMN).

Otsuka's Sibeprenlimab Becomes World's First Approved APRIL Antibody

China's NMPA approved Otsuka Pharmaceutical's sibeprenlimab injection for the treatment of adult patients with primary Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN).

The therapy is the world's first approved monoclonal antibody targeting APRIL (A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand), marking a significant breakthrough in IgAN treatment.