By Fineline Cube The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the “Catalogue of Industries Encouraging Foreign Investment (2025 Edition)” , effective February 1 2026, repealing the 2022 edition. The new catalogue adds nine refined healthcare sectors, including novel drug development, biotech engineering, radiopharmaceuticals, and internet‑based healthcare services.
Key Healthcare Additions
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| ① Novel Drugs | Active ingredient drugs, chemically innovative drugs, quality‑evaluated generics, high‑value APIs, high‑end preparations, clinical shortage drugs |
| ② Outsourcing Services | CROs for drug/medical device R&D and production |
| ③ Biotech Engineering | Novel antibody drugs, multifunctional antibodies, GPCR antibodies, ADCs, recombinant protein drugs |
| ④ Drug Delivery | New dosage forms, drug‑device combinations using novel technologies |
| ⑤ Medical Equipment | Novel medical equipment and materials production/processing |
| ⑥ Special Drugs | Nucleic acid‑based drugs, radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive isotope diagnostics/therapeutics |
| ⑦ Technology Transfer | Transfer of innovative original drugs for domestic production |
| ⑧ Biomedical Materials | Recombinant collagen‑based materials, biodegradable tissue regeneration materials, novel cavity materials |
| ⑨ Digital Health | Internet + healthcare services, intelligent healthcare |
Market Impact
| Stakeholder | Opportunity/Requirement |
|---|---|
| Foreign Investors | Enhanced clarity and incentives for healthcare investments; tax benefits and streamlined approvals |
| Domestic Companies | Increased competition but also partnership opportunities with global players |
| CROs/Platforms | Explicit encouragement of third‑party tech service platforms |
| Digital Health | Formal recognition of internet‑based and intelligent healthcare services |
| Regulatory Timeline | Effective Feb 1 2026; 30‑day transition period for compliance |
Strategic Implications
- For Foreign Pharma: Tax incentives and fast‑track approvals for novel drug development, ADCs, and nucleic acid drugs; CRO platform recognition enables service‑based market entry; technology transfer provision facilitates local manufacturing partnerships.
- For Domestic Market: Increased FDI may accelerate innovation but intensifies competition; biomedical materials and radiopharmaceuticals sectors gain capital infusion; digital health receives formal policy support, boosting telemedicine and AI diagnostics.
- For Policy: 2025 Catalogue signals opening‑up in high‑tech healthcare; proactive recruitment of foreign expertise in rare disease and advanced therapeutics; aligns with Healthy China 2030 and innovation‑driven development strategies.
Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief contains forward‑looking statements regarding the impact of the 2025 catalogue on foreign investment flows, market competition, and sectoral growth. Actual results may differ due to implementation details, geopolitical factors, or domestic policy adjustments.-Fineline Info & Tech