US Drugmakers Flock to China for Licensing Deals on Cancer Drugs

US drugmakers are increasingly turning to Chinese biotechs for licensing deals. One such deal was announced by Merck, which agreed to pay $400 million upfront to SciBrunch Therapeutics for global rights to an experimental cancer drug.

This is not an isolated instance, as several major US pharmaceutical companies have entered into similar agreements with Chinese biotech firms in recent years.

These deals often involve the US companies licensing Chinese-developed medicines in exchange for upfront payments and royalties. The Chinese biotechs typically retain domestic rights to the medications.