Li Xiaokun, a deputy to the National People's Congress and president of Wenzhou Medical University, has called for stronger support for original innovation to cultivate more biopharmaceutical projects.

Speaking during a group deliberation of Zhejiang deputies to the 14th National People's Congress on March 7, Li cited industry data showing that overseas licensing deals for China-developed innovative drugs exceeded $130 billion in total contract value in 2025.

Li said the Government Work Report this year mentioned the biopharmaceutical sector several times, which he described as encouraging for the industry. He noted that profit margins in the biopharmaceutical field often exceed 30 percent, making it a high-output sector with strong future competitiveness.

He cited the weight-loss drug semaglutide as an example, saying its strong sales reflect growing consumer demand for weight management products. As people's needs become more specialized, the biopharmaceutical sector is expected to see broader market opportunities, he said.

Li also emphasized the need to strengthen exploration at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medical and health sciences, and to accelerate the application of AI technologies in key biopharmaceutical scenarios.

He called for greater support from the government and state capital for researchers engaged in original innovation, in order to cultivate more new projects and foster new quality productive forces.