Kexing Biopharm has announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with IQVIA, the global clinical research and healthcare data analytics leader, marking a significant step in the Chinese biopharmaceutical company's international expansion strategy. The collaboration, formalized in August 2025, aims to accelerate the global clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of Kexing's innovative drugs and biosimilars across Europe and other regulated international markets.
Strategic Alliance Targets Global Market Access
The partnership leverages complementary strengths between the two organizations. Kexing Biopharm, a leader in recombinant protein drugs and microecological preparations, brings an innovative pipeline focused on antiviral, antitumor, immunosuppressant, and metabolic disease treatments. IQVIA contributes its proven expertise in global clinical trial design, regulatory strategy, and data-driven insights through its Connected Intelligence platform.
"IQVIA's global clinical data resources, patient insights, and regulatory knowledge will play a critical role in optimizing development strategy, improving success rates, and accelerating global registration timelines," stated Yanqing Zhao, CEO of Kexing Biopharm, during the signing ceremony.
Brian Mi, President of IQVIA Asia Pacific, highlighted Kexing's rapid progress in overseas commercialization and product innovation, noting that the collaboration would unlock new opportunities for both parties.
Proven Track Record in International Markets
Kexing has already demonstrated success in international market entry, with its in-licensed nab-paclitaxel achieving rapid approval and launch in several key jurisdictions. This early success provides a foundation for expanding the company's broader pipeline through the IQVIA partnership.
The collaboration addresses two critical industry challenges: regulatory delays and market entry failure. IQVIA's expertise in navigating diverse regulatory frameworks, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other international bodies, is expected to reduce the likelihood of costly setbacks while optimizing pricing and reimbursement strategies.
Industry Context and Innovation Trends
The partnership aligns with broader industry shifts documented in IQVIA's 2025 Global Trends in R&D report. The analysis reveals that 85% of the 48 novel active substances launched in 2024 originated from emerging biopharma companies, representing a significant increase from 53% in 2015-2019. This trend reflects the growing role of emerging biopharma companies in driving innovation, often supported by strategic partnerships.
Biopharma R&D funding reached a 10-year high of $102 billion in 2024, driven by IPOs and follow-on investments, fueling innovation in high-potential areas like oncology and metabolic diseases where Kexing maintains active development programs.
Technology Integration and Operational Synergies
The partnership will integrate IQVIA's Connected Intelligence platform, which combines real-world evidence and patient insights, to enhance Kexing's ability to design trials meeting stringent international standards. This technological integration is particularly critical for biosimilars and novel therapies, where regulatory scrutiny is high and market entry barriers are significant.
IQVIA's advanced analytics capabilities have previously demonstrated success in accelerating FDA approvals and optimizing clinical development timelines. The Clinical Program Productivity Index showed improved Phase III trial success rates attributed to better patient recruitment and AI-driven trial design—capabilities now available to Kexing through this partnership.
Global Development Platform
Kexing Biopharm has built what it describes as a unique globalization platform integrating advanced R&D capabilities with agile commercial execution. The company focuses on building cutting-edge biotechnology platforms for new protein, new antibody, and nucleic acid drugs while adhering to a platform-driven development model of "innovation + internationalization."
The strategic alliance reflects Kexing's long-term commitment to international expansion through scientific rigor, efficient execution, and strong partnerships. Moving forward, the company plans to continue deepening global collaborations to bring more high-quality Chinese pharmaceutical innovations to patients worldwide.
