China Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Law

Your Legal Bridge to China's Healthcare Market

From clinical trials to NMPA approval, NRDL pricing to commercial operations — we help global pharma and MedTech companies navigate every regulatory, compliance, and transactional challenge in China.

17+
Years in Practice
10+
Countries Served
NMPA Drug & Device Registration
Human Genetic Resources (HGR) Compliance
PIPL Healthcare Data Governance
Cross-Border Pharma Licensing & M&A
Anti-Bribery & FCPA Compliance
01

Why China's Pharma Market

China is the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market and the fastest-growing major healthcare economy. For global pharma and MedTech companies, China is no longer optional — but the regulatory complexity demands expert local counsel.

$260B+
Pharma Market Size
IQVIA, 2025
50%+
Of Global Clinical Trials
Now include China sites
~1.4B
Population
Rapidly aging demographic
90%+
Urban Insurance Coverage
NHSA, 2025
02

The Full Lifecycle — Where We Guide You

A pharma or MedTech product's journey in China involves distinct legal and regulatory challenges at every stage. We provide end-to-end counsel across the entire lifecycle.

🏗️
Phase 1
Market Entry & Structure
WFOE/JV setup, negative list review, MAH strategy, free-trade zone incentives, IP pre-filing
🧬
Phase 2
Clinical & HGR
HGR filings, clinical trial agreements, ethics committee, CRO contracting, PV reporting
📋
Phase 3
Registration & NMPA
Drug/device registration strategy, accelerated pathways, patent linkage, data exclusivity
💰
Phase 4
Pricing & Market Access
NRDL negotiation, VBP strategy, provincial tendering, commercial insurance integration
🏥
Phase 5
Commercialization & Compliance
Anti-bribery systems, HCP engagement, promotional compliance, distributor management
🤝
Phase 6
Transactions & Exit
License-in/out, M&A, MAH transfer, antitrust filing, dispute resolution
03

Specialized Pharma & MedTech Services

🧬

Human Genetic Resources (HGR) Compliance

End-to-end HGR strategy for international clinical trials. We handle cooperation filings with MOST, information backup/security review for cross-border data transfer, and the complex "foreign party" designation rules under the 2023 Implementing Rules.

MOST Filings Clinical Trials Cross-Border Data
📋

NMPA Drug & Device Registration

Strategic counsel on product classification, registration pathways (Category 5.1 import drugs, Class II/III devices), accelerated review designations, and patent linkage under the 2021 framework. We work with your regulatory team to de-risk the approval timeline.

NDA/BLA Medical Device Accelerated Pathways
🔒

Healthcare Data Privacy (PIPL)

China's PIPL imposes heightened obligations on "sensitive personal information" including health data. We design compliant architectures for: clinical data localization, pharmacovigilance reporting to global headquarters, HCP/patient CRM systems, and cross-border transfer via China SCCs or security assessment.

PIPL Data Localization China SCC PV Reporting
⚖️

Anti-Bribery & Healthcare Compliance

Build compliance systems that satisfy both FCPA and China's Criminal Law Article 164. We cover: HCP speaker program protocols, academic sponsorship guardrails, distributor due diligence, patient assistance program (PAP) structuring, and internal investigation response.

FCPA HCP Engagement Internal Investigations
💰

NRDL Pricing & Volume-Based Procurement

Navigate China's national reimbursement listing (NRDL) negotiations and volume-based procurement (VBP) tenders. We advise on global pricing strategy implications, tender contract obligations, and dispute resolution when supply commitments are challenged.

NRDL VBP Pricing Strategy
🤝

Cross-Border Pharma Licensing & M&A

Full-service support for license-in/license-out transactions, asset acquisitions, and JV structuring in the pharma space. Core expertise: technology import/export registration, IP due diligence, MAH transfer procedures, and antitrust (merger control) filings.

License-in/out M&A MAH Transfer Antitrust
🛡️

IP Protection & Patent Disputes

Protect your pharmaceutical IP portfolio in China. We handle patent linkage litigation, invalidation challenges, trade secret protection for manufacturing processes, and anti-counterfeiting enforcement through administrative and judicial channels.

Patent Linkage Trade Secrets Enforcement
🏭

Manufacturing, Supply Chain & GMP

Legal support for CMO/CDMO contracting, GMP compliance investigations, product liability defense, supply chain ESG audits, and recall crisis management. We bridge the gap between quality/regulatory and legal risk.

CMO/CDMO GMP Product Liability ESG
04

Critical Compliance Areas

These are the compliance domains that keep General Counsel and Compliance Officers of global pharma companies awake at night. We provide proactive risk management, not just reactive firefighting.

🔴 HGR Violations High Risk

Unauthorized export of Chinese genetic samples or associated data can trigger administrative penalties, suspension of clinical activities, and criminal liability under the amended HGR Regulations (2023). We audit existing trial portfolios for HGR gaps and design compliant architectures from protocol inception.

🔴 Anti-Bribery Enforcement High Risk

China's healthcare anti-corruption campaign has intensified, with multi-agency task forces targeting pharmaceutical companies. Combined with FCPA exposure for US-linked entities, the dual enforcement risk is severe. We build compliance programs that withstand scrutiny from both Chinese and foreign regulators.

🟡 Data Export from China Escalating

Clinical data, PV safety data, and HCP information increasingly require security assessments or standard contracts before leaving China. The tension between global pharmacovigilance obligations and Chinese data localization requirements requires careful legal architecture.

🟡 Distributor & Third-Party Liability Escalating

Under China's evolving anti-bribery doctrine, pharmaceutical companies face vicarious liability for the actions of their distributors, CSOs, and service providers. Pre-engagement due diligence, contractual protections, audit rights, and ongoing monitoring are essential.

🔴 IP Theft & Trade Secret Leakage High Risk

Employee mobility between pharma companies, CROs, and CDMOs creates significant trade secret risk. We help implement technical and legal safeguards, including post-employment restrictions and rapid-response litigation when breaches occur. The 2020 amendment to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law significantly increased damages for trade secret misappropriation.

🟡 ESG & Supply Chain Compliance Escalating

Global ESG disclosure requirements increasingly extend to Chinese pharmaceutical supply chains. We assist foreign pharma companies in auditing supplier compliance with environmental, labor, and anti-forced-labor standards, and managing the legal implications of adverse findings.

05

Your China Pharma Legal Team

罗巍 Luo Wei

Partner, Strategy Committee Member
Jiangsu Tianni Law Firm
📍 Nanjing, China
🌐 English & Chinese
🏢 B5 Bldg 13-14F, Xincheng S&T Park, Jianye District, Nanjing

Luo Wei is a Partner at Jiangsu Tianni Law Firm with 17 years of legal practice, specializing in international dispute resolution, cross-border investment, and corporate governance. His clients span the United States, the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, Japan, South Korea, and Australia — including several multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Drawing on deep experience in both international arbitration (CIETAC, UNCITRAL, LCIA) and Chinese regulatory proceedings, Luo Wei offers foreign pharma and MedTech clients a unique combination: the cultural and legal fluency to translate between global headquarters and Chinese regulators, and the litigation bench strength to defend your interests when disputes arise.

As a member of the Jiangsu Provincial Bar Association International Commercial Arbitration Committee, the Nanjing Bar Association Corporate Governance Committee, and the Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG) of the LCIA, Luo Wei stays at the forefront of both regulatory developments and dispute resolution practice. He was recognized as an Outstanding Foreign-Related Lawyer (2019–2022).

Why Pharma Companies Choose Us

Regulatory + Dispute Dual Capability — we handle both compliance counseling and litigation/arbitration, avoiding hand-offs between firms
Cross-Cultural Bridge — bilingual, bicultural, experienced in translating Chinese regulatory logic for global leadership teams
Global Network — strategic partnerships with law firms in South Korea, the Middle East, Europe, and across Asia for coordinated multi-jurisdictional matters
Practical, Not Academic — we provide operational compliance roadmaps and red-flag checklists, not just legal memoranda
06

Representative Experience

Cross-Border Investment & Transactions

01

Advised a US biotech company on its China market-entry structure, including WFOE establishment in Shanghai Free Trade Zone and technology import compliance

Market Entry
02

Represented a European pharmaceutical company in a cross-border license-out transaction with a Chinese biotech, including IP due diligence and technology export registration

Licensing
03

Advised a Cyprus-based investor on acquisition of a Chinese logistics company serving the pharmaceutical cold-chain sector

M&A
04

Advised on a US angel-round investment in a Chinese digital health startup, including VIE structure analysis and data compliance review

Digital Health

International Dispute Resolution

05

Represented a German trading company in a CIETAC arbitration concerning international sale of medical supplies, securing a favorable award on quality-dispute claims

CIETAC Arbitration
06

Handled an international bank guarantee fraud dispute between an Egyptian commercial bank and a Chinese bank, involving cross-border documentary credit issues

Bank Guarantee Fraud
07

Represented a Panamanian shipping company in a maritime cargo dispute involving pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics and claims for spoilage damages

Maritime / Logistics
08

Served as legal counsel on a USD 500 million offshore bond issuance, advising on cross-border security structures and PRC law opinions

Capital Markets
07

Insights & Knowledge

2026.08

China's 2026 Data Export Rules: Implications for Pharma Clinical Data

Analysis of updated cross-border data transfer regulations and what they mean for global clinical trial sponsors.

2026.07

SPC Issues Judicial Interpretation on Cross-Border Data Flow — New Compliance Standards for Enterprises

The Supreme People's Court clarifies data export obligations. What pharma companies need to know.

2026.06

Foreign Investment in China's Healthcare Sector — Latest Negative List Update

Updated analysis of foreign investment restrictions and opportunities in pharma, biotech, and medical services.

2026.05

ESG Compliance Trends: EU Supply Chain Directive's Impact on Chinese Pharma Exporters

How European ESG legislation is reshaping compliance requirements for pharmaceutical supply chains in China.

2026.04

Sino-Korean Pharma Cross-Border Legal Services — Tianni & SIWOO Strategic Alliance

Announcing a strategic partnership with SIWOO Law Firm (Seoul) to create a green channel for Sino-Korean pharma legal services.

2026.03

New Company Law — One Year On: Corporate Governance Implications for Foreign-Invested Pharma Enterprises

Practical insights on the 2024 PRC Company Law amendments and their impact on WFOE and JV board structures.

08

Start the Conversation

Reduce Risk. Create Value.

Whether you are preparing for an NMPA submission, structuring a China-facing clinical trial, negotiating a license deal, or responding to a regulatory investigation — we bring 17 years of cross-border legal experience to your matter.

We work in English and Chinese, on your time zone. Initial consultations are confidential and without obligation.

Email Us Now
📞
Phone / WeChat +86 18795966199
✉️
Email luowei@tiannilaw.com assistant@tiannilaw.com
🏢
Office B5 Building, 13-14F, Xincheng Science & Technology Park, Jianye District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
🌐
Main Website luoweilvshi.com
China Market Lifecycle Services Compliance Our Team Contact ← Main Site