Samsung Epis Holdings has opened its first biopharmaceutical research and development center in China focused on antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, joining a growing list of multinational drugmakers deepening their presence in a country that has become one of the world’s most active hubs for cancer drug innovation.
The facility in Beijing’s Changping district will serve as a global hub for Samsung’s ADC research activities and comes amid a wave of out-licensing deals, partnerships and research investments that are reshaping China’s role in the global pharmaceutical industry.
“The establishment of the new R&D center reflects our commitment to advancing new growth opportunities and strengthening our competitiveness in novel drug development,” said Kim Kyung-ah, president and chief executive officer of Samsung Epis Holdings. “By bringing together world-class scientific talent and advanced technological infrastructure in China, which has become an increasingly important global center for ADC innovation, we aim to further enhance our capabilities in the development of next-generation biologic therapies.”
Samsung’s move reflects a broader trend among multinational pharmaceutical companies, which are increasingly expanding research operations in China as they search for new drug candidates rather than simply pursuing sales in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.
That shift is particularly evident in ADCs, a fast-growing class of targeted cancer therapies that combine tumor-targeting antibodies with potent cell-killing payloads. The technology has become one of the pharmaceutical industry’s most active areas of deal-making as drugmakers race to replenish pipelines and develop more effective cancer treatments.
Global sales of ADC medicines have surged from about $2 billion in 2018 to $16.6 billion in 2025 and are projected to continue growing rapidly over the coming years, according to industry estimates.
ADCs have become a priority area for multinational pharmaceutical companies because they offer clear clinical advantages and significant commercial potential, said Chu Lei, a researcher at the Healthcare Executive Institute.
“The technology continues to evolve, with advances in targeting, drug delivery efficiency and resistance management expanding its potential across a wider range of cancers,” he said.
China has emerged as a major force in the field. According to Evaluate’s data, over 50 percent of ADC clinical trials worldwide are now being conducted by Chinese developers.
The country’s growing prominence was on display at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, where Chinese companies accounted for five of the six ADC programs making their first public clinical presentations, according to industry analyses.
China’s rise has also fueled a surge in cross-border licensing activity.
Last month, Pfizer agreed a collaboration worth up to $10.5 billion with Innovent Biologics covering ADCs and multispecific antibodies. Takeda last year licensed two ADC candidates from Innovent in a deal worth up to $6 billion, while Merck has signed multiple ADC-related agreements with Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical.
Data from pharmaceutical intelligence platform Pharmacube show more than 20 major ADC-related transactions have been signed between multinational pharmaceutical companies and Chinese biotechnology firms over the past five years, covering nearly 30 pipelines.
The growing interest reflects China’s increasingly competitive position in drug research.
“What attracts multinational companies to China today is not only the market, but also the country’s ADC innovation ecosystem,” Chu said. “China combines strong technology platforms, abundant project supply, efficient clinical development and competitive costs, creating advantages that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.”
According to Morgan Stanley, direct patient-related costs for Phase III clinical trials in China are roughly one-third of those in the United States. McKinsey has also estimated that clinical development timelines in China can be two to five times faster than in Western markets.
Samsung pointed to many of those advantages when selecting Beijing for its new center. The company said the facility would draw on the scientific resources of Zhongguancun Life Science Park and nearby institutions including Peking University and Tsinghua University.
[email protected]
Tanks to chinadaily.com.cn
Please visit:
Our Sponsor
Like this:
Like Loading…
Разгледайте нашите предложения за Български трактори
Иберете от тук
Българо-китайска търговско-промишлена палата