Russia and China expand partnership in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

On June 17, Shanghai hosted the 4th Annual Russia-China Pharmaceutical Forum. The event has become one of the key occasions contributing to the development of Russia-China cooperation in pharmaceutical innovation and biotechnology. The forum’s general partner was the Russian company Petrovax Pharm, which already has successful experience working with China’s pharmaceutical industry.

Now in its fourth year, the Russia-China Pharmaceutical Forum brought together representatives of the business and scientific communities, as well as relevant government agencies from both countries, at CPHI China. One of the central topics was the development of new formats of international cooperation involving joint R&D, clinical trials, and bringing innovative molecules to different markets. Forum participants shared successful examples of such cooperation.

In recent years, China has become one of the world’s largest hubs for pharmaceutical innovation. Developments by Chinese biotech companies are attracting growing interest from international players, while the value of certain licensing deals has reached billions of dollars. For Russian companies, cooperation with Chinese partners is becoming an important way to expand access to original medicines and advanced technologies.

According to forum participants, pharmaceutical cooperation between Russia and China is entering a new stage. Whereas in the past it was focused mainly on supplies of finished products, companies are now moving toward deeper partnership models, including technology transfer, production localization, and clinical trials.

Speaking at the session "From Deals to Alliances: Case Studies in Cooperation, Clinical Trials and Market Launch," Mikhail Tsyferov, President of Petrovax Pharm, cited the localization of camrelizumab production as a successful example. Camrelizumab is an original PD-1 inhibitor used in the treatment of several types of cancer.

Mikhail Tsyferov also emphasized that camrelizumab became the first original Chinese biotech medicine to be included in Russia’s Vital and Essential Drugs List, and the only original medicine added to the list in 2025 at the initiative of a Russian company.

Experts noted that the era of generics in the Russian market is coming to an end, and that the future lies in new mutually beneficial international projects focused on the development and launch of original innovative medicines. China is becoming one of Russia’s key partners on this path.