Discussion on the Development of Vietnam’s Biopharmaceutical Industry

In order to support domestic pharmaceutical enterprises in accessing up-to-date information on policies and global trends in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as to expand cooperation opportunities amid global political, trade, and tariff fluctuations, with the approval of the Drug Administration of Vietnam, on 28 May 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam Pharmaceutical Corporation (Vinapharm), in coordination with Edelman and Crowell Global Advisors (United States), organized the Discussion on the Development of Vietnam’s Biopharmaceutical Industry. The discussion continued the achievements of the “Globalization of Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Industry” Initiative, initiated in late 2022 by Mr. Joseph Damond, former Chief Negotiator of the U.S. – Vietnam Trade Agreement and senior advisor in biopharmaceuticals and international trade, in collaboration with Edelman.

The event was honored to welcome leaders from the Ministry of Health and the Drug Administration of Vietnam, international biomedical scientists and experts, as well as representatives from domestic and international pharmaceutical companies. Participants and experts focused on in-depth discussions covering the entire biopharmaceutical value chain, from basic research, clinical trials, and manufacturing to policy and regulatory frameworks, aimed at promoting the sustainable development of Vietnam’s biopharmaceutical industry and expanding foreign investment in this strategic sector.

With a pioneering spirit and a proactive approach to international integration, Vinapharm has been the first enterprise in Vietnam’s pharmaceutical sector to work closely and engage directly with Mr. Joseph Damond since the early stages of the Globalization of Vietnam’s Biopharmaceutical Industry Initiative.

Speaking at the discussion, H.E. Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên emphasized that Vietnam’s biopharmaceutical industry is facing significant opportunities while also encountering substantial challenges. To promote the sector’s development, the Deputy Minister requested that the Drug Administration of Vietnam, as the specialized authority under the Ministry of Health, proactively research and propose breakthrough solutions to support the development of the biopharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. He also highlighted the importance of strongly applying information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific research, clinical trial management, and in fostering connections among scientists, research institutes, training institutions, enterprises, and regulatory authorities. In addition, he called upon scientists, researchers, and enterprises to actively coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant state management agencies in contributing feedback, refining policies, and formulating a sustainable and effective development roadmap for Vietnam’s biopharmaceutical industry.

At the event, Mr. Tạ Mạnh Hùng, Deputy Director General of the Drug Administration of Vietnam, shared that, in line with the objectives of “self-reliance and export growth” and positioning Vietnam as “a regional hub for high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing,” Law No. 44/2024/QH15, amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Pharmacy, will take effect from 01 July 2025. The amended law introduces a series of priority policies for pharmaceutical development, including: Accelerated registration procedures for special drugs such as new drugs, originator brands, orphan drugs, vaccines, and high-technology medicines; Utilization of national funds, including the National Technology Innovation Fund, the National Science and Technology Development Fund, and high-tech venture capital funds to support research, development, clinical trials, and drug commercialization; Combined investment from the state budget and socialized capital to develop vaccine, biological product, herbal medicine, and traditional medicine manufacturing; Preferential procurement policies, including price stabilization and reduction mechanisms for new drugs, originator drugs, high-tech medicines, vaccines, and rare drugs with technology transfer and local production in Vietnam.

The discussion served as a practical activity contributing to the implementation of national objectives on “strengthening international cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation,” “enhancing scientific research and technological cooperation with countries that have advanced levels of science, technology, and digital transformation—particularly in artificial intelligence and biotechnology,” and “promoting science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in enterprises,” as outlined in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated 22 December 2024 of the Politburo.

Through this event, Vietnam Pharmaceutical Corporation (Vinapharm) and Edelman expressed their expectation to continue promoting the establishment of a regular, in-depth dialogue mechanism, contributing to expanded academic collaboration, technology transfer, and investment attraction. These efforts aim to gradually strengthen the internal capacity of Vietnam’s biopharmaceutical industry and lay a solid foundation for deeper integration into the global value chain in the coming period.

Source : https://vinapharm.com.vn/