On July 23, 2026, the Chinese-language website of French international broadcaster RFI (Radio France Internationale) reported that while Chinese biopharmaceutical companies are rapidly increasing their presence in the global market, concerns are rising from the perspective of national security and industrial defense.

The article introduced a case where the anti-cancer drug 'Ivonesimab,' developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Akeso (康方生物), showed superior efficacy to the existing flagship drug Keytruda from US company MSD, and Akeso partnered with a US biotech company to grant exclusive development and sales rights in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan.

It was explained that Xia Yu (夏瑜), a molecular biologist and chairman of Akeso, started his career at major US pharmaceutical company Bayer after graduating from a British university, then returned to China and founded his own company. It is stated that 650 biotech companies were established in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province alone by such researchers, known as 'sea turtles,' who returned to China after studying abroad.

Furthermore, it was mentioned that major US pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) entered into a partnership agreement worth up to $950 million (approximately 156 billion yen) with China's Hengrui Medicine, and that the company is also listed as a shareholder in Nasdaq-listed US company Kura Therapeutics. This was pointed out as a structure where US investment funds are ultimately fostering their own competitors.

Moreover, these partnerships are not isolated incidents, and the share of Chinese companies in global large pharmaceutical licensing agreements, which was 0% in 2020, surged to 48% in 2025, with the total transaction value in 2025 reaching approximately $136 billion (approximately 22.28 trillion yen).

Regarding the movements of Chinese companies, the article introduced that US Republican Representative John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is promoting a bill to add biotechnology to the scope of investment restrictions against China, and also requested action from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. It was also stated that some US government officials hold the view that 'if reviews are not conducted, China will continue to steal the fruits of US pharmaceutical research and drive US companies to bankruptcy.'

Furthermore, concerns are also spreading in Europe, and Richard Saynor, CEO of Sandoz, a major generic pharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland, pointed out the risk of the European antibiotic industry being hollowed out due to dumping by Chinese companies receiving government subsidies, and reportedly requested protective measures from the EU. (Edited/Translated by Kawajiri)