The article discusses the rising influence of Chinese companies in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting their shift from primarily supplying raw materials to becoming significant players in drug discovery and development. It notes that Western pharmaceutical firms are increasingly looking to China for innovative therapies, driven by regulatory reforms and a return of skilled talent, which is reshaping the global biotech landscape.

Australian startup Cortical Labs has launched the CL1, the first code-deployable biological computer, which uses human brain cells on a silicon chip to process information. Designed for neuroscience and biotech research, the CL1 enables real-time experimentation with live neurons, offering potential applications in drug discovery and neurocomputation. Each unit is priced at $35,000, with a cloud-based service available for remote access to the technology.