Geopolitical contributions to pharmaceutical innovation

An analysis of the sources of new experimental drugs in the 21st century reveals a dramatic change in the location of organizations involved in new drug discovery. Overall, the number of new experimental drugs has risen robustly over the past 25 years. Whereas American private sector institutions have a long track record of leading the world in introducing new drugs to the clinic, China undertook a concerted effort during the mid-2010s to increase discovery efforts and now equals the USA. The growth of Chinese contributions is remarkable and reflects efforts by both the public and private sector. The rapid rise of China raises questions about future decision-making and leadership of the larger pharmaceutical enterprise.