China is focused and determined to play a global role in the biotechnology industry. China currently accounts for 16 per cent of the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical market and has over 3500 manufacturers (Source: BMI).

The current market value is estimated at US$8.5 billion with 60 per cent of this generated from sales into the local medical sector.

The government sees biotechnology as a high priority sector, with the nation already a world leader in adult stem cell research. China is also the world’s largest producer of antibiotics, glumatic acid, citric acid, vitamin C and beer.

Some leading Chinese biotechnology firms include:

• SiBono Genetech Ltd. – the first company in the world to receive regulatory approval for gene therapy.
• Jingmei Biotech – produces instrumentation and reagents.
• Beijing Triprime Genetic Engineering – molecular cloning and vaccines.
• Sinovac Biotech – vaccines and diagnostics devices, and has alliances with leading Asian companies. First company in the world to conduct phase I trials on a SARS vaccine. Company has visited Australia and interested in partnering.

China is already committed to bioparks - the major ones include:

• China Beijing Bioengineering and Pharmaceutical Industrial Park
• Shanghai Pudong New Area
• Tiajin Economic-Technological Development Area
• Guangzhou Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone
• Shenzhen Hi-tech Industrial Park 
• Hunan Changsa National Economic and Technical Development Zone

Hong Kong

Positioned as a Chinese herbal medicine hub and as its free market feature - this is a good test market for the natural health care products and service.

A leading company is CK Life Sciences, which specialises in complementary health and nutraceutical products.

Country regulations

The State Food & Drug Administration (SFDA) is the Chinese Government agency under the State Council with broad responsibility for the safety management of food, health, cosmetics and is the administration authority for drug regulation and medical devices in China.

The SFDA implemented GMP on pharmaceutical production, but it was not until 2004 that GMP became mandatory, with IVD and reagents required since January 2006.