Faster approval for foreign drugs eyed

Procedures to approve the use of new overseas drugs in China are to be improved.

Such drugs can be given clinical trials on the Chinese mainland at the same pace as for trials conducted overseas, after approval from China's top drug regulator, according to a guideline released by the State Council on Tuesday.

The guideline also says that domestic clinical trial institutions are encouraged to take part in trials conducted by their international partners to enable the data acquired to be used when the overseas developers apply to register the new drugs in China.