If there's one thing biotech execs like to do more than anything else, it's planning a global strategy for rolling out an experimental drug. Up to now, that has largely meant studying the FDA for clues on drug approvals, considering the virtues of solo marketing (usually just a negotiating ploy in licensing talks) or co-promoting in the U.S., followed by a partnership deal for Europe and maybe Japan.
In the coming year, you can expect to see a lot more work being done on Asian deals, particularly for China. Through the course of this past year there have been growing signs of this global evolution. More Chinese companies are on the lookout for drugs that can be in-licensed, and more U.S./European companies are reaching out to some new players in the region. J&J ($JNJ) highlighted the change by placing one of its global innovation centers in Shanghai.
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