China's research-based pharma companies reported mixed third-quarter results for their anti-PD-1 antibodies, BTK and PARP inhibitors amid broader challenges including an ongoing government-led anti-corruption campaign.

Moving decisively but not hurriedly, Henlius is taking a two-pronged approach to join the global ADC race. The first two molecules developed via its in-licensed novel linker-payload platform have entered the clinical stage, while its own proprietary programs are seeing steady R&D progress, the Chinese firm's head of early R&D tells Scrip in an interview.

Medilink’s ADC platform, which addresses the antibody endocytosis process, has received its first endorsement from a major international partner in the form of BioNTech.

While there are already restrictions on the prescribing of cancer drugs in China, oncologists in the world’s second-largest pharma market are also now being expected to strictly avoid off-label use, especially of costly imported therapies from multinationals.