May 23, 2017, Covington Alert

On May 11 and 12, 2017, the China Food and Drug Administration (“CFDA”) published drafts of four proposed policies in the form of circulars (or notices) for public comment. These “Proposed Policies” include significant reforms in the areas of the new drug and device approval process (“Circular 52”), clinical trial regulation (“Circular 53”), life-cycle management and post-marketing surveillance (“Circular 54”), and regulatory data protection and patent linkage (“Circular 55”). Comments for each circular are due on June 10, 2017, but CFDA recommends that the comments be submitted by email before May 25, 2017.

January 23, 2017, Covington Alert

On January 9, 2017, eight Chinese ministries announced a significant new policy that aims to reduce marked-up prices and corruption in multi-tier distribution chains. The policy effectively requires that under most circumstances, at most two invoices may be issued throughout the distribution chain, with one from the manufacturer to a distributor and another from the distributor to the end hospital. The policy applies only to drugs, but some provinces reportedly have been implementing similar policies for medical devices.

December 21, 2016

SHANGHAI—China Business Law Journal has named Covington partner Weishi Li to its “A-List” of the top 100 private practice lawyers in China. Ms. Li is one of two life sciences lawyers recognized by the magazine. China Business Law Journal’s inaugural A-list is based on interviews of in-house counsel in China and around the world, as well as partners at Chinese ...

September 21, 2016

June 3, 2015, LegalStudio

January 9, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC, January 9, 2013 — Covington & Burling has launched its Shanghai office, its third in Asia, following the opening of offices in Beijing in 2008 and Seoul in late 2012. The firm will now have a total of 20 lawyers resident in these three offices, placing it among AmLaw’s Top 50 U.S. firms with a presence in Asia. The move strengthens the firm’s ...

September 5, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC, September 5, 2012 — Covington & Burling is pleased to announce the addition of Weishi Li as a partner to its corporate team, further bolstering the firm’s global transactional and IP capabilities in the life sciences and technology sectors. Ms. Li will be based in Shanghai when that office opens. Ms. Li’s practice covers a wide range of ...