Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. is the latest mainland China pharmaceutical company to seek a capital raise on the Hong Kong stock exchange, winning clearance April 28 from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to float new H-shares.
Tightening of U.S. regulation and capital is leading Chinese biotechs to alternative and new models of financing, ranging from cross-border licensing deals, M&As, the so-called newco model and overseas listings.
Europe was a bigger counterpart to China in pharmaceutical dealmaking than the U.S. last year, speakers at Chinabio Partnering Forum said April 23, and the trend is likely to continue in 2025 with the shuttering of U.S. capital and volatility ailing global markets.
Biopharma deal value declined in the first three months of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, but remained above the 2024 quarterly average of $57.63 billion. In the first quarter (Q1), biopharma deals totaled $66.86 billion across 330 transactions, a decrease from $80.65 billion in Q4 2024, which saw 372 deals. However, this was a significant value increase from Q1 2024, when deals amounted to $44.32 billion across 376 transactions.
Ongoing restructurings in the biopharma sector show common themes of cost-cutting, clinical failures and shifting strategic priorities. Companies are increasingly focusing on high-value pipeline assets, closing or consolidating non-core operations and making difficult workforce reductions to preserve capital. While these adjustments may lead to short-term setbacks, they are crucial for ensuring long-term sustainability.
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