In today’s pharma landscape, cross-border collaboration is no longer optional, it’s essential. From biotech startups seeking validation partners to established pharma companies sourcing innovation, SEQOVA cross-border pharma partnerships are reshaping how therapies move from lab to patient.
At SEQOVA, we’ve made it our mission to bridge these worlds. Connecting innovation from Asia with opportunity in Europe and the U.S., and vice versa.
China’s Rise as a Partner in Innovation
In recent years, China has emerged as a powerhouse for biotech and pharmaceutical development. The scale of R&D investment, clinical data generation, and technical advancement has been remarkable.
In 2025, Chinese biopharma companies accounted for around one-third of global drug-licensing deal value, according to Jefferies and BioPharma Dive
Marking the strongest year yet for out-licensing activity from China. Oncology alone continues to dominate the space, representing the majority of high-value transactions.
Source: Jefferies Report via Fierce Biotech, BioPharma Dive, 2025
This evolution has created tremendous opportunity but also complexity. The potential is undeniable, yet successful partnerships require far more than identifying promising molecules.
Beyond the Science: What Makes Cross-Border Deals Work
Every partnership crosses not just geographical borders but regulatory, operational, and cultural ones too. Based on our experience at SEQOVA, five factors consistently determine whether a cross-border collaboration thrives or falters.
True R&D and Regulatory Readiness
It’s not just about dossier review. At SEQOVA, we go beyond paperwork — conducting on-the-ground assessments to verify R&D integrity, manufacturing capability, and real-world compliance. True readiness combines science with execution.
Compliance Reality vs. Documentation
What passes for “compliant” in one market may not hold in another. For instance, OECD GLP certification remains a critical bottleneck.
While the U.S. FDA may accept internally generated GLP data, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) requires that non-clinical studies conducted outside the EU or outside countries formally adhering to the OECD Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) system must show proof of inspection by an EU GLP compliance monitoring authority within three years of the final study report.
Without this, the risk of rejection during European review is high. We’ve seen quite a few such cases, where studies accepted by the U.S. FDA were later rejected by the EMA due to the lack of recognized OECD GLP oversight.
Compounding this, obtaining a new EU GLP inspection has become increasingly difficult, as many compliance authorities now face limited inspection capacity and prioritize facilities within the EU or long-standing OECD MAD members.
IP and Ownership Clarity
Intellectual property in China has improved significantly, yet early-stage agreements can still face ambiguity around data exclusivity or joint ownership of improvements. Ensuring clarity at the term-sheet stage protects value downstream for both sides. For detailed insights on China’s patent system and its application to pharmaceuticals, refer to the WIPO Patent Judicial Guide on China.
Cultural and Communication Gaps
Western partners often expect detailed transparency and milestone-based accountability; Chinese firms may operate with more relational, trust-based communication. In China, guanxi (the network of relationships and mutual obligations) plays a critical role in decision-making. Understanding the influence of guanxi helps Western partners navigate negotiations, anticipate timelines, and build trust more effectively.
Timing and Trust
Great partnerships are built, not bought. We’ve seen transactions succeed when both sides allow time for due diligence, build confidence through transparency, and maintain ongoing dialogue long after the deal closes.
Our Approach: Turning Insight into Action
At SEQOVA, we help our partners evaluate scientific credibility, regulatory readiness, and business alignment, ensuring each opportunity stands on solid ground. Our work spans:
• Licensing & Partnerships – both in- and out-licensing of high-value assets
• Regulatory & Compliance Evaluations – combining dossier review with on-the-ground assessments
• Market Access Strategy – for EU, U.S., and Asia
• Investment Preparation – for select R&D assets nearing dossier or scale-up stage
We bridge innovation and investment by focusing on opportunities that deliver sustainable value. Leveraging our local presence and trusted networks, we guide Western partners through relationship dynamics, communication nuances, and cultural expectations. This ensures deals progress smoothly, timelines are realistic, and mutual expectations are aligned from the outset.
Where Innovation Begins
With CPhI Frankfurt 2025 just days away, we’re excited to connect with companies seeking to establish long-lasting cross-border partnerships, spanning sterile injectables to novel assets and platform technologies.
If you’ll be at CPhI Frankfurt, let’s meet to explore how SEQOVA can help turn opportunity into action. Follow us on LinkedIn for insights, updates, and partnership opportunities.