Merck seeks deeper partnerships in China’s pharmaceutical innovation

Germany-headquartered science and technology giant Merck is setting its sights on becoming the “preferred partner” in China’s fast-evolving pharmaceutical sector, aiming to leverage its global commercialization expertise to fuel ongoing medical innovation in China’s healthcare industry, said Andre Musto, managing director and general manager of Merck Healthcare China.

China’s growing influence in global healthcare innovation is striking, with the latest data showing that the country now contributes approximately 30 percent of global healthcare innovation “The rate of innovation within China is impressive,” Musto said during a recent interview in Beijing.

Data from the National Medical Products Administration showed that in 2025, China approved a record 76 innovative drugs for market entry, with the total value of outbound licensing deals exceeding $130 billion and the number of the license-out deals surpassing 150, both reaching record highs.

“Deepening engagement in China is not a short-term market move, but a long-term effort to collaborate with Chinese medical innovators, turning breakthroughs into real value for patients and helping the country’s pharmaceutical innovations reach the global stage,” Musto added.

This long-term commitment has already begun to deliver tangible results. Recombinant Human Thyrotropin for Injection, introduced through Merck’s partnership with Chinese biotech Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals, has become China’s first innovative drug for precision post-operative assessment in differentiated thyroid cancer, with the first prescriptions recently issued nationwide.

Sheng Zelin, chairman and general manager of Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals, said thyrotropin has filled a domestic void in precision post-operative assessment for differentiated thyroid cancer, enabling safer, more comfortable and more sustainable follow-up care after surgery.

According to the company, stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) testing and radioactive iodine whole-body scanning (WBS) are key methods for precision post-operative assessment in patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer. Before the tests, patients need to stop thyroid hormone replacement therapy in advance to allow thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels to rise.

“Many of these patients are elderly and may already have underlying cardiovascular conditions, making the discomfort and risks associated with treatment withdrawal even more pronounced,” Sheng said.

Sheng added that the new drug allows patients to remain on thyroid hormone therapy, helping them avoid the discomfort and potential clinical risks linked to withdrawal-induced hypothyroidism.

The launch of Thyrotropin also reflects the growing momentum of collaboration between multinational pharmaceutical companies and Chinese innovators. “We are witnessing an increasing number of collaborations between local Chinese companies and multinational corporations, and Merck intends to continue strengthening its engagement in this area,” Musto added.