Zai Lab, founded in 2014, licenses drugs from Big Pharma like Zejula and Cobenfy for China but is now developing its own global pipeline1.
At AACR 2026, Zai Lab presented data on three internal oncology therapies, including DLL3-targeting ADC zoci for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and brain metastases12.
Zai Lab generated $460 million in 2025 from eight top drugs in China, but notes one U.S. drug can exceed that; lacks global regulatory expertise limits expansion1.
Zoci is in phase 3 for relapsed SCLC with three registration-enabling studies planned by end-2026, aiming for Zai's first global oncology launch12.
Execs highlight China's strengths in discovery and fast trials but challenges in global development; Zai leverages U.S. labs in San Diego and China sites1.
China's biotech evolves to global innovation, with Zai blending speed and standards; other nations like Japan and South Korea also advancing13.
Sources:
1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/aacr-endeavoring-go-global-zai-lab-offers-reality-check-chinas-biotech-ascent
2. https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/pharmaceuticals-biotech/nasdaq-zlab/zai-lab/news/zai-lab-aacr-update-puts-internal-oncology-pipeline-and-glob
3. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/sponsored/chinas-biotech-moment-goes-global-zai-lab-exec-says