Over the past decade, China has transformed its pharmaceutical sector, evolving from a generics-dominated market into a global engine for innovative drug development. This shift has been driven by a combination of regulatory reforms, substantial increases in research and development (R&D) investment, and the rapid expansion of clinical research and manufacturing capabilities. This article explores the key drivers behind China’s rise in innovative drug development.

Innovation in cell and gene therapy depends on scientific breakthroughs as well as enabling technologies that address key challenges in delivery, safety, and development efficiency. At the ELRIG Cell and Gene Therapy 2026 conference, a number of emerging technology developers showcased solutions designed to overcome some of the most persistent bottlenecks in the field.

The cell and gene therapy landscape is evolving. Directly editing the genome or subcellular processes isn’t an aspirational dream anymore, but a potentially game-changing class of therapeutics for life-threatening and seriously debilitating diseases. Zeeks was fortunate enough to attend ELRIG’s Cell and Gene Therapy conference in Cambridge, hearing from the scientists developing cell and gene therapies about innovations in development across a plethora of diseases and therape