The latest mega deals aimed at bringing Chinese innovation to the US have rekindled go-global hopes for a sector badly needing some cheer. But some investors say out-licensing may be the best route and that Chinese biotech must scale back its do-all mentality and focus on what it does best amid a new reality.

The hard going could get even tougher as a funding crunch continues for China’s biotech sector, which is being hit by a paradox that could see more pain ahead, leading investors to take the pulse of the sector as the Year of the Rabbit starts.

The Japanese pharma agreed to pay $400m up front plus up to $730m in milestones for a colorectal cancer drug already on the market in China and nearing regulatory filings in the US, EU and Japan.

The 2022 pricing negotiations for innovative drugs organized by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration have slashed prices of included products by 60% on average, a level mostly unchanged from the 2021 round, although 36% more novel medicines were covered.