A Message from John Xu
Welcome to the first edition of BioLink Weekly. Over the past eight years, I have had the privilege of facilitating dozens of licensing transactions between Chinese biotechs and their US and global partners. In that time, one thing has remained constant: the biggest obstacle to deal-making is not interest or even capital — it is information asymmetry. US companies do not always know what is available in China. Chinese companies do not always understand what US partners are looking for. BioLink Weekly exists to close that gap. Each week, we will bring you curated deal intelligence, regulatory updates, and market analysis focused exclusively on the US-China biopharma corridor. We hope you find it valuable. — John Xu, MD, MBA, MS, Founder & President, BioRich International
Q1 2026 Market Overview
Cross-border biopharma licensing between the US and China reached its highest quarterly volume since Q1 2021 in the first quarter of 2026. Key trends driving this activity include:
ADC dominance
Antibody-drug conjugates accounted for 34% of all out-licensing transactions from China, up from 21% in 2025. The modality has proven its clinical and commercial value and US companies are aggressively seeking candidates.
Metabolic disease surge
The commercial success of approved GLP-1 therapies has created intense demand for next-generation oral and injectable metabolic candidates from Chinese pipelines.
Improved regulatory clarity
The FDA's March 2026 guidance on Chinese clinical data has reduced uncertainty for US companies evaluating assets with China-only clinical packages.
Talent circulation
A growing cohort of Chinese-American scientists and executives with experience at both US majors and Chinese biotechs are facilitating faster cultural and scientific due diligence.
Regulatory & Policy Watch
BIOSECURE Act — Where Things Stand
The BIOSECURE Act, which restricts US federal contractors from working with certain Chinese biotechnology companies, entered its implementation phase. BioRich will track developments and assess implications for our network companies in each issue.
NMPA 2026 Work Plan Released
China's NMPA released its 2026 work plan, highlighting accelerated reviews for innovative drugs, biosimilars, and rare disease therapies as priority areas.
About BioRich International
BioRich International is a boutique biopharma business development firm based in Princeton, NJ. Founded by John Xu, MD, MBA, MS — with 20+ years of experience at Bristol Myers Squibb, Wyeth, WuXi AppTec, and CrownBio — BioRich specializes in facilitating licensing deals, capital connections, CRO/CDMO partnerships, and market research for companies operating across the US-China corridor. Our network includes 250+ China-based biotech clients, relationships with 45+ multinational pharmaceutical companies, and active engagement with 10+ US venture capital firms.
BioLink Weekly is published by BioRich International, Princeton NJ.
lisa.fan@biorichinc.com