China’s biopharma sector creaking back to life — but many trials are still on hold

In the wake of coronavirus, life may slowly be coming back to the life sciences industry in China: WuXi AppTec, a major contract research organization, said it has resumed operations throughout China. Everywhere except for its Wuhan site, that is. The coronavirus epicenter still remains largely on lockdown. 

Despite WuXi’s welcome reemergence, the virulent germ has taken quite the toll on various aspects of Chinese biopharma — including disrupting the clinical trials of experimental medicines, Reuters reports. About 20% of global trials now take place in China, with nearly 500 U.S.-based clinical trials in Wuhan itself. And drug testing has taken a backseat to patient care. 

“Hospitals aren’t focused on clinical trials right now,” one China-based drug exec said. “They have plenty of other things to be focused on.”