Plagued by a scandal which gained global attention a few years go, the gene therapy sector has recovered and is now thriving in China. But a drive for innovation, combined with ready cash for aspiring start-ups, may not translate into leaps and bounds in the field due to challenges unique to these latest treatments, including manufacturing, durability and coverage.

With gene editing making the news again after the recent Nobel Prize for CRISPR, China’s EdiGene has been raising new funds to accelerate its pipeline to the clinic, led by a potential one-time cure for thalassemia and helped by recent regulatory changes.

After proposing a sweeping biosecurity law in May, China is facing pressure from European governments for potentially posing severe restrictions on key sectors such as life sciences and biological research.