Regulatory reforms in China have dramatically sped timelines for clinical trial approvals, shifting the country from one of the slowest to one of the fastest markets for IND review. U.S. analysts and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) note that the 2018 'implied approval' mechanism and ICH alignment have attracted more international sponsors and CRO activity. The changes mean global drugmakers and service providers can run trials more quickly in China, tapping large patient populations and expanding global R&D footprints. CROs and biotech investors are recalibrating strategies to capture the new volume and speed of regulatory activity in the market.