It’s not just AI. China’s medicines are surprising the world, too
Its firms are at the forefront of cheaper, faster drug discovery
Keytruda, a cancer medicine, ranks among the most lucrative drugs ever sold. Since its launch in 2014 it has raked in more than $130bn in sales for Merck, its American maker, including $29.5bn last year. In September last year an experimental drug did what none had done before. In late-stage trials for non-small cell lung cancer, it nearly doubled the time patients lived without the disease getting worse—to 11.1 months, compared with 5.8 months for Keytruda.
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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “In rude health”
Business
February 22nd 2025
From the February 22nd 2025 edition
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