Record Global Attendance at CPHI & PMEC China 2025 Sparks Growth

The CPHI & PMEC China 2025 event, taking place from June 24 to June 26, 2025, has reported an unprecedented surge in international attendance, with a remarkable 30% year-on-year increase. This growth highlights China’s expanding role in the global biotech sector, driven by rising in-licensing deals and international partnerships.

Set in Shenzhen, this year’s event witnessed over 109,056 attendees from 147 countries, with nearly 15,000 international executives participating, primarily from Europe and the United States. This influx underscores the growing interest from Western pharmaceutical companies in China’s biotech innovations, which are increasingly integral to global drug development pipelines.

As the largest pharmaceutical event in Asia, CPHI & PMEC consolidates its influence with over 3,600 exhibitors showcasing products across more than 240,000 square meters. The event serves as a crucial platform for global engagement, reinforcing China’s position as a key player in the biopharma landscape, particularly in sectors like oncology, autoimmune diseases, and rare conditions.

According to a report by Jefferies, China accounted for 32% of all in-licensing deals to major pharmaceutical companies in the first quarter of 2025, a significant rise from 28% in 2024 and just 8% in 2021. This trend indicates that despite ongoing tariff tensions, Chinese biotechnology firms are stepping in to fill investment gaps created by a downturn in funding and valuations in Western markets.

“Growing numbers of senior executives from global pharma companies are attending CPHI China to meet potential partners in person,” stated Natasha Jennings, Head of Global Growth Marketing at Informa Markets. “China now delivers a third of in-licensed assets to big pharma and continues to be the largest single market for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, including complex APIs.”

The event featured 14 product zones covering the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, from ingredients and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services to finished dosage forms, biologics, machinery, and packaging. The expanded Bioengineering and Life Sciences zones attracted strong international interest, while the conference program included over 90 sessions with more than 600 expert speakers. Key topics included cross-border licensing, regulatory cooperation, AI-led research and development, and technology transfer strategies.

Looking ahead, attention is now shifting to CPHI & PMEC Shenzhen, scheduled for September 1–3, 2025. This event will be held in the Greater Bay Area, a region known for its innovation and manufacturing capabilities. Significantly, it is one of the country’s “five-day visa-free” regions, making it an attractive destination for international attendees. With an expected 10,000 visitors, including a growing number of Western pharma companies and dealmakers, the event promises a focused environment for collaboration with Chinese biotech firms.

“Shenzhen is where a large share of China’s biotech innovation is happening, especially at early and mid-clinical stages, but is also a massive centre for manufacturing,” Jennings added. “CPHI Shenzhen is therefore the ideal destination for business development, giving Western pharma direct access to the heart of China’s most promising region and its potential assets.”

For more information on attending CPHI & PMEC China 2026 and CPHI Shanghai next June, visit the official website. The event highlights the dynamic growth of China’s biotech sector and its vital role in shaping the future of global pharmaceuticals.