Welcome back to your monthly news roundup, where we look back at the biggest stories to hit the pharma headlines. It’s time to reflect on July 2026China’s biotech boomChina’s biotech sector is rapidly becoming the pharmaceutical industry’s preferred hunting ground. AstraZeneca led the trend this month, striking a $200m licensing deal for a COPD programme from Chia Tai Tianqing before returning days later with a $1.5bn agreement for Dizal’s lung cancer drug. From the other side of the table, IQVIA estimates that 40% of all assets licensed by pharma in 2025 originated in China. UK-US pharma dealAlso this month, a BMJ analysis estimated the UK-US pharmaceuticals trade deal could increase NHS medicines spending by £44.7bn by 2036 if no additional funding is provided.