China Cancer Immunotherapy Market Analysis

China Cancer Immunotherapy Market Executive Analysis

China's cancer immunotherapy market is at around $9.04 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach $17.50 Bn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period. China is anticipated to spend $49 Bn on pharmaceutical and biopharma R&D by 2023, growing at a compound annual rate of 23%. By then, 23% of the global total for drug development and testing will be spent on pharmaceutical and biopharma R&D in China. By 2021, sales of biopharmaceuticals in China are expected to nearly double from their 2016 level to $50 Bn. Before 2030, China may be able to produce medications that are on par with those made in the United States and Europe. China is the second-largest market in the world for healthcare, spending $3.5 Tn there in 2018.

About 4,064,000 newly diagnosed cancer cases were recorded in 2021, according to estimates from the National Cancer Center (NCC) of China, yielding a crude incidence rate of 293.9/100,000. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for all cancer cases combined in the global standard population was 186.5/100,000. For most cancer types, men had a higher crude incidence rate or ASIR than women. Lung, colorectum, stomach, liver, and breast cancers were the most frequently diagnosed ones, making up 20.4%, 10.0%, 9.8%, 9.6%, and 7.5%, respectively, of all cancers combined.

A unique hormone receptor has been identified by Chinese researchers as a possible target in the immunotherapy treatment of cancer. The pituitary gland hormone α -MSH works in conjunction with the receptor MC5R to encourage the development of tumours. The discovery was made by a group of university researchers who were looking into the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in tumour immunity. They measured the levels of different hormones in mice with tumours and discovered that their levels of α-MSH were noticeably elevated. By encouraging myeloid cell accumulation and immunological suppression through its receptor MC5R, the hormone can cause tumour growth in humans. The MC5R receptor was identified by the researchers as a potential therapeutic target that would allow for hormone disruption.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

China has a sizable population and a high prevalence of cancer there. A major commercial opportunity for cancer immunotherapy treatments is presented by this sizable patient pool. Through funding and other initiatives, the Chinese government has been actively promoting the growth of the market for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer immunotherapy research has advanced significantly, resulting in the discovery of new and effective treatments. In China, there is a growing tendency toward the acceptance of cancer immunotherapy treatments as awareness of these therapies rises hence resulting in the growth of the China cancer immunotherapy market.

Market Restraints

China's regulatory environment for cancer immunotherapy medicines is continually changing, which could cause delays in market entry and approvals. The cost of cancer immunotherapy treatments may make them inaccessible to some patients and healthcare systems. The availability of numerous additional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may restrict the use of cancer immunotherapy therapies thereby limiting the expansion of the China cancer immunotherapy market.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• CStone Pharma (CHN)- This biopharma has a significant pipeline in both targeted therapy and immuno-oncology, with a focus on combination therapy in particular. For instance, CS1001 was the first entirely human anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody to be authorized for clinical development by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA)
• CARsgen Therapeutics (CHN)
• JW Therapeutics (CHN)
• BeiGene (CHN)- The immuno-oncology treatment BGB-A317 is the claim to fame of Beijing-based biotechnology startup BeiGene.
• Legend Biotech (CHN)
• Astrazeneca
• Bayer
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Eli Lily
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche
• Pfizer
• Johnson & Johnson
• Merck

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) is in charge of overseeing China's health insurance and reimbursement regulations for cancer treatment, including immunotherapy. The NHSA oversees managing the country's healthcare insurance program and making sure cancer sufferers have access to the most recent therapies. Patients are obligated to pay a specific amount of the cost of their cancer treatment under China's healthcare insurance system, with the government covering the remaining costs. Depending on their level of coverage, patients are expected to pay a different %age. To guarantee that cancer patients have access to the most recent treatments, including immunotherapy, the Chinese government has put in place a number of safeguards. To ensure that new medicines, including cancer immunotherapy therapies, are made available to patients as soon as feasible, the Chinese government established a fast-track approval mechanism in 2018. Additionally, the Chinese government has put in place a number of initiatives to enhance cancer care, including the development of cancer screening programs and cancer treatment recommendations.