Ten government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly released the 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for the development of the pharmaceutical industry, setting the goal that China's biomedical research, development and application will stand at the world's forefront by 2030, with systematic breakthroughs in key core technologies across priority areas.

The plan emphasizes deeper integration of digital intelligence and expanding open, mutually beneficial cooperation, aiming to build a robust material and technological foundation to meet full-lifecycle health needs and advance the Healthy China initiative.

Ten targets have been set for 2030. They include the operating revenue of pharmaceutical industrial enterprises above designated size exceeding 3.5 trillion RMB, first-in-class drugs accounting for more than 25 percent of the global total, 200 innovative medical devices approved for market launch, and establishing at least 20 pharmaceutical industrial parks with annual output surpassing 100 billion RMB.

Twenty-five key tasks around eight fronts — including innovation-driven development, precision diagnosis, and open, win-win cooperation — have been laid out. Specific measures include:

◆ Accelerating the R&D and application of a batch of cutting-edge,leading high-end medical devices;

◆ Launching action for efficient substitution of off-patent drugs;

◆ Supporting retail pharmacies in expanding professional services and health promotion functions;

◆ Promoting the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine culture;

◆ Strengthening monitoring of production and supply information for key drugs;

◆ Accelerating the market entry of clinically urgent imported drugs and medical devices and introducing their production in China.

The plan also proposes nine special programs focusing on key innovation areas and products, as well as the cultivation of high-value application scenarios for AI-driven drug development. AI-assisted target screening, drug molecule design and optimization will be prioritized for R&D and application. Development of drugs for rare diseases will also be accelerated.