Shanghai Biotechs Tout Speed Edge Over US, Europe — SkimNews
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- Four biotech executives appeared on stage at a five-star Hilton in Shanghai's gleaming "Science City" district, joking that drug development in China is faster, cheaper, and more efficient than in the United States — "And God help Europe."
- Zhui Chen, co-founder of Shanghai-based Abbisko (now valued at $6 billion), recalled running a clinical trial on a drug licensed to German pharma Merck KGaA.
- Abbisko's trial finished in just 11 months, prompting Merck KGaA executives to ask whether Abbisko could train their own staff.
- The executives framed China's biotech edge as comprehensive — outpacing the United States on speed and cost while leaving Europe further behind.
- The event was staged in Shanghai's "Science City" district, positioned by Chinese biotechs as a hub courting global pharmaceutical partnerships.
Why it matters: A $6 billion Shanghai biotech (Abbisko) completed a trial for Germany's Merck KGaA in 11 months — fast enough that Merck asked Abbisko to train its staff. If Chinese biotechs can deliver that speed-to-trial repeatedly, Western pharma's clinical development timelines and cost structures face direct competitive pressure from Shanghai-based rivals.
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