Regulatory reforms in China have replaced slow, open‑ended IND approvals with an ‘implied approval’ framework and other measures that dramatically shortened review timelines, analysts said, transforming China from one of the slowest to one of the fastest places to initiate clinical studies. The changes have encouraged more international sponsors and CROs to conduct trials in China and integrate Chinese sites into global programs. Industry trackers also flagged six drugs to watch in China for 2026—compounds that reflect the country’s growing role in both innovative biology and commercial launch strategies. The list underscores where Chinese developers and multinational partners may compete or collaborate in 2026. For global sponsors, faster approvals create opportunities for accelerated enrollment and large patient cohorts; for CROs, they create demand for local operational scale, regulatory expertise, and data harmonization. The reforms also raise questions about regional regulatory alignment, GCP standards, and the integration of China‑derived data into global registrational packages. Sources: NSCEB analysis and market reports cited in the original coverage.