Two innovative medicines developed by companies in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), also known as Beijing E-Town, have received marketing approval in 2026, accounting for half of the city's total. The approvals of Bejescin® (MIL62, Obinutuzumab Beta Injection) for primary membranous nephropathy and Shouyaoze® (conteltinib granules) for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer mark a new stage in the area's biotechnology and healthcare industry, as years of research begin to translate into commercial products.

Innovative medicines are among the most demanding products to develop in the pharmaceutical industry. Success depends not only on scientific discovery but also on the ability to advance a candidate from target identification through clinical trials, regulatory review, and commercialization. Industry estimates have put the average development timeline at 10 to 15 years, with investment exceeding USD 1 billion per drug.

The approval of two independently developed innovative medicines in Beijing E-Town within a single year reflects both the long-term efforts of local companies and the growing capacity of the area's pharmaceutical ecosystem to support the development and commercialization of new treatments.

Two medicines achieve milestones in their respective fields

The two products have each reached a distinct milestone in their therapeutic areas.

Professor Zhao Minghui of Peking University First Hospital said Bejescin's approval demonstrated progress in China's biopharmaceutical capabilities and placed Chinese developers at the forefront of treatment for autoimmune kidney disease.

Developed by Mabworks, Bejescin is the world's first specifically approved treatment for primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), an autoimmune kidney disease. Its approval provides an alternative to conventional treatment approaches that have long relied on immunosuppressive drugs.

The medicine selectively targets and clears abnormally activated B cells. Its use can improve remission rates while reducing reliance on prolonged treatment with conventional calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids, which are associated with kidney toxicity and metabolic side effects.

Mabworks has continued expanding the medicine's availability since its launch. As of September 30, 2026, Bejescin had been listed on drug procurement platforms in 29 provincial-level regions and was available through nearly 300 direct-to-patient (DTP) pharmacies, with distribution coverage extending to more than 800 hospitals, according to the company.

Shouyaoze, developed by Shouyao Holdings, is a Class 1 innovative drug and the first ALK inhibitor in granule form approved in China. Designed for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it offers an alternative formulation for people who have difficulty swallowing, older patients, and others with specific medication needs.

The granule formulation may make administration more convenient and help patients adhere to long-term treatment. Its distinct dual-target mechanism is intended to extend progression-free survival and support more consistent long-term management of ALK-positive lung cancer.

The drug has already been prescribed in more than 10 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hangzhou.

From a decade of research to a cluster of approvals

The two approvals are the result of years of sustained research and development, reflecting a broader transition in Beijing E-Town's biopharmaceutical industry from early-stage investment and scientific development to a period of more frequent commercial outcomes.

Shouyao Holdings established its headquarters in Beijing E-Town in 2019 and advanced human clinical trials of Shouyaoze as part of its development work. After more than a decade of research and numerous technical and development challenges, the company's approval marks its entry into a new stage of commercialization for its innovative medicines.

Mabworks' development in the area dates back to 2003. Over the years, the company has progressed through key stages, including research and development, listing on China's National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), and investment in expanded production capacity.

Its core product, Bejescin, first received approval to enter clinical trials in 2016. In February 2026, it obtained marketing approval for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. Several months later, its approval for PMN made it the first medicine worldwide specifically approved for that indication.

The two companies' trajectories reflect wider developments across Beijing E-Town's biopharmaceutical sector. In 2021, SinoCell received approval for Anjiayin®, China's first domestically developed recombinant factor VIII product. In 2025, Bosheng Excellence's Amimestrocel Injection, marketed as Rui Bo Sheng and described as China's first stem-cell therapy drug, and Jacobio's Glecirasib also received approval.

Companies that have spent years, and in some cases decades, building their research and development capabilities are now bringing more products to market. Other indicators of progress include innovative medicines receiving Breakthrough Therapy Designation from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

At the same time, newer companies are adding to the area's research and commercial capacity. Since Beijing E-Town announced plans for the BioPark in 2024, the development has attracted 19 multinational pharmaceutical companies, alongside domestic innovators such as Fosun Pharma and Hengrui Pharmaceuticals.

The combination of established companies advancing long-running pipelines and newer entrants expanding the industrial base is helping shift the pattern of drug development from isolated, decade-long efforts toward a more concentrated flow of approvals and commercialization.

An integrated ecosystem supports companies through the development cycle

The growth of Beijing E-Town's innovative drug sector reflects not only individual company achievements but also the support available across research, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization.

A representative of a biopharmaceutical company that has operated in the area for five years described the appeal of the local ecosystem as the ability to find resources for research, clinical trials and pilot-scale development within the same area, reducing the need to coordinate every stage across distant locations.

Beijing E-Town has built a support framework covering multiple stages of biotechnology and healthcare development. Its 20 policy measures for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry provide phased, milestone-based financial incentives for innovative drugs and medical devices, with support linked to key stages from research and development to market entry. Funding for innovative drug development can reach CNY 40 million (approximately USD 6 million). Additional support is available for medical device development, regulatory approval and overseas expansion.

Specialized research platforms provide further support

The National AI Application Pilot Base for Healthcare is developing shared services for biopharmaceutical manufacturers, including data resources, computing power, drug-target discovery, clinical trial recruitment and real-world research. These capabilities are intended to shorten development timelines and reduce research costs.

The NMPA's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Center for Drug and Medical Device Evaluation and Inspection offers companies more accessible regulatory guidance during the development and review process. Its services include early-stage and ongoing technical consultations, regulatory communication, registration inspections and related supervisory inspections.

The Life and Health Industry-Education Integration Base focuses on emerging areas such as AI for life sciences, innovative biopharmaceutical therapies, advanced medical devices and high-end scientific instruments. It seeks to connect research outcomes from leading universities and institutes with commercial development while supporting interdisciplinary talent training and the creation of innovation-driven companies.

Several other Class 1 innovative drugs developed in Beijing E-Town are currently undergoing new drug application (NDA) review, while multiple innovative medical devices have entered China's special review procedure for innovative medical devices.

Beijing E-Town's role was to provide sustained support as companies navigate lengthy and uncertain development processes. By establishing platforms where companies need them most and aligning policy support with the most demanding stages of research and development, Beijing E-Town aims to help more innovators progress from scientific research to commercial results.

As established drugmakers bring long-term research programs to fruition and new companies join the local ecosystem, Beijing E-Town is working to strengthen the links between scientific discovery, clinical validation, commercialization and industrial development. The goal is to create conditions in which more innovative treatments can reach patients while supporting the continued growth of the area's biotechnology and healthcare industries.