10 biotech companies in China you should know about

China’s biotech scene has evolved significantly over the last few years, with companies increasingly developing novel drugs and attracting international attention through partnerships and out-licensing deals. In this article, we look at 10 biotech companies in China that are currently making strides in the country’s thriving biotech industry.   

Abogen Biosciences  

• Technology: mRNA therapies  
• Disease areas: Oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases 
• Recent news: Received IND approvals in China and the U.S. for its KRAS mRNA cancer vaccine  

Abogen Biosciences makes it on this list by virtue of an impressive $700 million series C round that it bagged in August 2021 – still one of the biggest ever private biotech funding rounds. This was swiftly followed by another $300 million investment round in November 2021.  

Abogen is one of the few biotech companies in China that has self-developed all its key messenger RNA (mRNA) platform technologies, across mRNA synthesis, delivery, and manufacturing. Its mission is ultimately to develop therapies derived from mRNA technology, including immunotherapies for cancer, protein replacement therapies, and vaccines for infectious diseases, including a vaccine against COVID-19, which was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) in Indonesia in 2022, making it the first China-made mRNA vaccine authorized for use anywhere in the world.   

The mRNA company’s lead candidate is ABO2011, which is currently being tested in a phase 1/2 trial as a monotherapy or in combination with the monoclonal antibody drug Toripalimab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Meanwhile, Abogen also announced last month that it has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approvals for its novel KRAS mRNA cancer vaccine, ABO2102, in both China and the U.S. According to the company, the candidate is China’s first therapeutic cancer vaccine targeting multiple – in this case five – KRAS mutations.  

Argo Biopharma  

• Technology: siRNA therapies  
• Clinical disease areas: Cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, and rare diseases 
• Recent news: Entered into an additional strategic collaboration with Novartis for cardiovascular assets 

Argo Biopharma is working on the development of next-generation siRNA therapies and has established a pipeline of drug candidates targeting a wide range of indications, including cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, and rare diseases, with six therapeutic candidates currently in clinical development. To help create its candidates, the company utilizes an siRNA drug discovery engine, called RADS (RNA molecules with superior Activity, Durability, and Safety), which aims to produce more stable, long-acting siRNA molecules.  

Earlier this month, the Chinese biotech announced that it had entered into an additional strategic collaboration with Novartis for multiple cardiovascular assets in Argo’s pipeline. More specifically, the deal allows Novartis to explore Argo’s phase 2 asset ANGPTL3 in a combination study for dyslipidemia, and the Swiss giant will also have the first right of negotiation to secure the license to ANGPTL3 further down the line. The agreement also gives Novartis the license to a preclinical liver-delivered siRNA candidate outside of China that is due to enter phase 1 trials next year. This collaboration builds on the two companies’ previous deal, which was announced in January 2024 and involved two RNAi agreements for cardiovascular assets.  

Elsewhere, in July 2025, Argo also announced positive news for one of its other candidates, as it received IND approval in China for a phase 2 clinical trial of its siRNA-based therapy, BW-20507, in combination with standard-of-care PEG-IFNα for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.  

Avistone Biotechnology 

• Technology: Small molecules 
• Disease area: Oncology 
• Recent news: Announced encouraging preclinical results for type II ROS1/NTRK tyrosine kinase inhibitor 

Avistone Biotechnology is developing a pipeline of small-molecule drugs for cancer, with its lead asset, a type I MET inhibitor, having already been approved in China for the treatment of specific, genetically-defined populations of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients with glioblastoma. The drug works by blocking a protein called c-Met, whose dysregulation is linked to many types of solid tumors; other drugs blocking this target include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved crizotinib and cabozantinib.  

Avistone also recently announced encouraging preclinical results for one of its other drug candidates, called ANS03, which is an orally bioavailable type II ROS1/NTRK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These non-clinical studies showed that the drug was potent, with remarkable activity against various pathogenetic ROS1/NTRK alterations and with favorable absorption, distribution, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability profiles. The candidate is now being evaluated in a global phase 1 study in adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring ROS1 alterations, and in adult and pediatric patients with NTRK alterations. 

Avistone turned heads in December 2021 with a series A round worth more than $200 million. The oncology firm used the proceeds to fund its combination with another cancer-focused player called Pearl Biotechnology. More recently, in January 2024, Avistone announced the closing of a series B financing round worth around $140 million. The company said that the funds from this would be used to support the clinical research and development of Avistone’s pipeline, accelerate the screening of new molecules, support clinical studies and expansion in the U.S., and support the commercialization of its lead asset, PLB1001, in China. 

Epigenic Therapeutics 

• Technology: Gene modulation therapy 
• Disease areas: Metabolic, cardiovascular, viral hepatitis, ocular, and autoimmune diseases 
• Recent news: Raised $60 million in a series B round  

Epgenic Therapeutics is dedicated to developing next-generation gene modulation therapy utilising epigenome regulation to treat prevalent diseases. The company has multiple product candidates in the pipeline, including treatments for metabolic, cardiovascular, viral hepatitis, ocular, and autoimmune diseases. Its most advanced candidate is EPI-003, being developed as a functional cure for hepatitis B.  

Epigenic also has a technology platform called EPIREG, which enables efficient, durable, and specific silencing of target genes through precise DNA methylation and histone modification. According to the company, unlike traditional gene-editing tools that rely on DNA cleavage, its platform offers a “safer and revolutionary therapeutic approach” for patients with chronic diseases, effectively mitigating safety concerns associated with conventional gene editing. 

Earlier this month, Epigenic announced that it had completed a $60 million series B round, which will primarily support the ongoing clinical development of EPI-003, as well as the development of the company’s other candidate, EPI-001, for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). The company said the funding will also accelerate the advancement of multiple preclinical programs and further strengthen the company’s technology platforms.  

Hangzhou DAC Biotech  

• Technology: ADCs 
• Disease area: Oncology 
• Recent news: Entered into a license and collaboration agreement with WuXi Biologics and Aadi Bioscience 

Also known as Hangzhou Duoxi Bio, Hangzhou DAC Biotech is one of the relatively few biotech companies in China developing proprietary antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a popular class of drugs in the oncology arena. After nine years of research and development, Hangzhou DAC has established a special ADC technology platform, with 20 ADC drugs in different development stages currently listed in its pipeline, ultimately making the company a leader in the field in China.  

The company’s current lead clinical candidate, a HER2-targeted ADC called DX126-262, is in phase 2 of development for the treatment of breast and gastric cancer. In 2024, a study showed that, combined with chemotherapy, the candidate demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy in HER2-positive gastric cancer.  

Last year, the Chinese biotech entered into a license and collaboration agreement with WuXi Biologics and Aadi Bioscience, in which Aadi was granted the exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize three preclinical ADCs from Hangzhou DAC and WuXi Bio. Furthermore, back in 2022, Hangzhou DAC announced a collaboration and license agreement with Janssen for the development of novel ADCs. Under the terms of the collaboration, it was agreed that Hangzhou DAC would apply its ADC platform to Janssen’s proprietary antibodies, with the aim of developing novel ADC products against up to five targets.  

Harbour BioMed 

• Technology: Antibody therapies  
• Disease areas: Immunology and oncology 
• Recent news: Announced that its partner, Windward Bio, initiated a phase 2 trial of HBM9378/WIN378 in patients with asthma 

Committed to the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics in immunology and oncology, Harbour BioMed is building a robust and differentiated pipeline through internal research and development (R&D) capabilities, strategic global collaborations in co-discovery and co-development, and selective acquisitions. The company very recently announced that its partner, Windward Bio, initiated a global phase 2 study evaluating the dosing, safety, and efficacy of HBM9378/WIN378 in patients with asthma, with initial data expected in mid-2026.  

Harbour BioMed also has its own proprietary antibody technology platform, Harbour Mice, which generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in both the conventional two heavy and two light chain (H2L2) format and the heavy chain-only (HCAb) format. Building upon HCAb antibodies, the company says that its HCAb-based immune cell engagers bispecific antibody technology enables tumor-killing effects that traditional combination therapies cannot achieve. Additionally, the HCAb-based bispecific immune cell antagonist technology empowers the development of innovative biologics for immunological and inflammatory diseases. 

In June, Harbour BioMed entered into a strategic collaboration with Japanese pharma giant Otsuka to advance BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engagers for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, in March, the Chinese company also announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca to discover and develop next-generation multi-specific antibodies for immunology, oncology, and beyond. The deal included an option to license multiple programs utilizing Harbour BioMed’s technology platform in multiple therapeutic areas, as well as a $105 million equity investment by AstraZeneca in Harbour BioMed. 

Junshi Biosciences  

• Technologies: Monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, polypeptide drugs, ADCs, bispecific and multispecific antibodies, nucleotide drugs, etc. 
• Disease areas: Oncology, immunology, metabolic diseases, neurology, and infectious diseases 
• Recent news: Announced that a phase 3 study of its anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody candidate met its primary endpoints 

Junshi Biosciences is developing an array of different medicines, having expanded from monoclonal antibodies to small molecule drugs, polypeptide drugs, ADCs, bispecific and multispecific antibody drugs, nucleotide drugs, etc. These therapies are also being developed for several different disease areas, including cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases.  

The company already has an approved PD-1 inhibitor, called Tuoyi (toripalimab). It was the first homegrown PD-1/L1 to obtain approval in China and was also the first China-made checkpoint inhibitor to win an FDA breakthrough designation. Plus, last year, Junshi announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) had approved the supplemental new drug application for toripalimab in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with medium to high-risk unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This is the first approved immunotherapy for renal carcinoma in China. 

Earlier this month, meanwhile, Junshi announced that a phase 3 study of its anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody, JS005, met its primary endpoints for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, with both the co-primary endpoints and key secondary endpoints showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements. The company said in the press release of the announcement that it plans to submit a new drug application for the candidate to the regulatory authorities in China “in the near future.” 

Qure Biotechnology 

• Technology: Antibody and protein therapies  
• Disease areas: Oncology, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory disorders 
• Recent news: Raised nearly CNY 100 million (approximately $14 million) in a series C1 financing round 

Qure Biotechnology, or QureBio, specializes in developing bispecific and multispecific antibody and protein therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory disorders. The company has established a suite of proprietary technology platforms, including its I2T platform and its T-cell engager and NK-cell engager platforms, which form the foundation for its pipeline of novel drug candidates. Using these platforms, QureBio has built a robust pipeline of drug candidates aimed at previously intractable diseases. 

QureBio’s lead candidate, Q-1802, is a claudin18.2/PD-L1 bispecific antibody that received regulatory clearance to initiate clinical trials in both China and the U.S. in March 2021. Patient enrolment for a phase 2 trial is now almost complete, and preparations are also underway for phase 3 clinical trials in China. Meanwhile, another candidate, Q-1801, which is an SIRPα/PD-L1 bispecific antibody, has also obtained clinical trial approvals in China and the U.S., and is poised to begin clinical studies soon.  

In June 2025, QureBio raised nearly CNY 100 million (approximately $14 million) in a series C1 financing round, which the company said would be used to accelerate clinical trials and advance its pipeline. Furthermore, QureBio has also established multiple collaborations over the last few years with leading biotech and pharma companies, including BRL Medicine, BioMap, Hengrui Pharma, and Precision Scientific, to co-develop novel therapies. 

Innogen  

• Technology: GLP-1 therapies 
• Disease area: Metabolic disorders 
• Recent news: Received approval from NMPA in China for its lead asset Efsubaglutide Alfa 

Founded in 2014, Innogen is dedicated to the research and development of innovative and affordable medicines for diabetes and other metabolic disease patients. In late 2021, the firm raised $120 million in venture financing, which helped it advance its fusion protein drug, Efsubaglutide Alfa, into phase 3 trials. The drug eventually received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China earlier this year for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.  

The drug is designed to activate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Now a very well-known target for the treatment of metabolic disorders, GLP-1 promotes the secretion of insulin, a hormone vital for stopping blood sugar levels from getting too high. Insulin is either scarce or doesn’t work well in patients with type 2 diabetes. While there are a number of GLP-1 agonists on the market, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, Efsubaglutide Alfa is designed to last longer in the body than some of its competitors.  

Efsubaglutide Alfa is also under development by Innogen for other indications, such as obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), to address the large unmet therapeutic needs in these disease areas. 

VelaVigo 

• Technology: Multispecific antibodies and ADCs 
• Disease areas: Oncology, immunology, neurology, and ophthalmology 
• Recent news: Agreed licensing deal with Ollin Biosciences for VBS-102 

With a highly efficient discovery engine and strong capabilities in translational medicine, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC), and early clinical development, 

Chinese biotech company VelaVigo is currently focused on the discovery and development of multispecific antibodies and ADCs for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and eye diseases.   

Since its inception in 2021, the company has built a pipeline of more than ten multi-specific antibodies and ADC molecules for oncology and autoimmune diseases, and has also set up VelaVigo Bio, Inc. in the U.S. to drive clinical development and partnerships globally. The company recently announced its second out-licensing agreement for a first-in-class candidate to Ollin Biosciences, granting Ollin an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its bispecific antibody, VBS-102, globally (excluding Greater China).  

This agreement followed VelaVigo’s first licensing deal with Avenzo Therapeutics in November 2024 and the successful close of a $50 million pre-A funding round in February 2025. The company says that this ultimately reinforces its business model, which combines business development and venture capital strategies for sustainable growth. 

Biotech in China: A thriving industry  

China’s biotech industry has undergone a momentous shift in recent decades, evolving from a generics-focused space to a thriving biotech ecosystem. This is largely thanks to the fact that, back in 2015, the Chinese government ushered in a slate of reforms that have since enabled the biopharma industry to thrive.  

One of the main changes in the country included regulators beginning to pilot the Marketing Authorization Holder system, which allows drug developers to use contract manufacturers instead of having to build costly in-house production or sell intellectual property to large firms. Furthermore, generic drugs were required to show bioequivalence to their reference branded products to improve the overall quality in this area, and China’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) started to allow foreign clinical data to support applications.  

Consequently, China’s biotechnology sector is now experiencing explosive growth, transitioning from a manufacturing base to a global hub for innovation in areas like biopharmaceuticals and genetic engineering. Fueled by government support, increased investment, and an influx of talent, Chinese companies are developing novel drugs and creating global partnerships, presenting a significant challenge to established Western biotech industries. In fact, a recent report suggested that China has already pulled ahead of the U.S. in key areas of the life sciences, and the U.S. may only have a handful of years to regain dominance in the sector. Meanwhile, the integration of AI and biomaterials is further driving innovation and expanding the market’s potential.