At the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos earlier this month, Vasant Narasimhan, global CEO of Swiss biotech giant Novartis, told CGTN that the Chinese mainland's biotech innovation now rivals that of the US.
"China's development in recent decades has presented tremendous opportunities, and China's biotech innovation now rivals that of the US," Narasimhan said.
Narasimhan highlighted how rapid growth in research funding, a surge of new biotech startups, and strengthened global partnerships have helped the Chinese mainland close the gap with the US.
For young entrepreneurs and investors, this convergence marks a turning point in global life sciences. Companies on both sides of the Pacific are competing—and collaborating—to bring breakthrough therapies to market.
Looking forward, experts will watch how regulators, industry leaders, and startups across borders coordinate to tackle challenges like clinical trials, data sharing, and market access. As Narasimhan put it, the future of biotech innovation is global—and the race is on.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
