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Why Asia Is the Emerging Epicenter for Global Biopharmaceutical Progress

In this episode, Daniel Levine talks with Feng Nying Zhang, a partner at McKinsey Shanghai, about Asia’s rapid rise as a global hub for biopharmaceutical innovation, highlighted by a McKinsey report showing the region’s share of innovative drug pipelines jumping from 28% to 43% in five years. Zhang explains that the surge is driven by a mix of strong government support, regulatory reforms, abundant talent, capital, and digital enablement, with each country—China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and India—bringing distinct strengths such as scale and speed in China, deep science in Japan, advanced manufacturing in Korea, translational hubs in Singapore, and cost‑effective development in India. He advises global pharma and biotech firms to move beyond viewing Asia as a monolith, recommending localized scouting, strategic partnerships, and tailored investments to tap regional capabilities. The discussion also touches on how Asian‑origin innovations could make therapies more affordable and expand access in emerging markets.