OBJECTIVE To explore the integration path of the industrial chain and innovation chain in the Yangtze River Delta based on the comparative study of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Germany.

METHODS This paper took the Yangtze River Delta pharmaceutical manufacturing industry as the research object, explored the integration degree of its industrial chain and innovation chain, and conducted a comparative study with the dual-chain integration degree of the German pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

RESULTS In 2012—2021, the dual-chain coupling and coordination degree of Yangtze River Delta rose from moderate disorder to good coordination, showing an upward trend; the dual-chain coupling and coordination degree of German pharmaceutical manufacturing industry was higher than that of Yangtze River Delta, in which the Yangtze River Delta pharmaceutical manufacturing industry chain was better than that of Germany, and the innovation chain of Germany's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry was better than that of Yangtze River Delta.

CONCLUSION The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River Delta should strengthen the leading enterprises, increase the investment in basic research and development, accelerate the agglomeration of innovation elements, and build various service platforms.