Beijing, China, June 28, 2011 – Notwithstanding the challenges, the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and market managed to post high growth again in 2010, according to
China Pharmaceutical Guide 2011 (6th Edition), which was officially inaugurated today by WiCON International Group LLC, the publisher of
Pharma China.
The overall output value of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry is estimated to have reached CNY 1,256 billion in 2010, up 25% year on year (compared with 21% in 2009) and accounting for no less than 7% of the Chinese GDP, as the Chinese foreign trade of medicines and health products swelled 24.57% in 2010 to US$60,197 million, the Guide reports quoting various official sources.
China’s overall drug market size in 2010, on the other hand, is expected to have reached CNY 755.6 billion at the retail price level, up 22% year on year (up from 21% growth in 2009), while IMS Health reported 21% growth for the Chinese hospital market in 2010.
The uninterrupted growth was driven by improved order of the Chinese pharmaceutical market place, exits of small and irregular competitors, relatively more stability in drug regulation, increased government healthcare funding and surging market demands, suggests James Shen, the Publisher of
China Pharmaceutical Guide and
Pharma China.
Also, the Chinese government recently announced its plan to inject CNY 1,134.2 billion additional funding into healthcare reform during the period of 2009 and 2011 which is CNY 284.2 billion more than the CNY 850 billion for the period committed by the Chinese government at the beginning of healthcare reform earlier in 2009. This ensures continued market growth in the near future.
The Guide reveals that big pharma companies continued to fare well in China in 2010 as they opened the floodgate of M&As toward the end of last year with a string of record-breaking high value deals. Simultaneously, they continued to accelerate R&D relocations to the country as witnessed by Pfizer’s recent wholesale move of its antibacterial research unit to Shanghai.
All these point to the country’s captivating growth prospects as MNC pharma companies face grim realities in their traditional and home markets. It seems nothing would hold back the momentum of these companies boosting investments and expanding businesses in China. Organic annual growth of 20% to 30% is no longer enough for MNCs and faster expansion is being pursued through a slew of aggressive approaches including M&As, diversification drives, strategic alliances/partnerships, R&D redirection and vertical integration.
While these positive factors provide good inspirations in a gloomy economic climate worldwide, the Guide reveals many less-known aspects about the realities in Chinese healthcare. These include the very basic coverage of the universal basic medical insurance system that China is hoping to put into place through healthcare reform, the small share of healthcare expenditures in China’s GDP, and the moderate average annual drug consumption per capita.
The absolute drug market size of China is already comparable to that of Japan, according to
China Pharmaceutical Guide 2011, but the country still lags behind Japan by far in terms of its per capita healthcare spending and maturity of its healthcare system.
Furthermore, increased short term risk factors and uncertainties recently are clouding the future prospects of Chinese pharma for MNC companies and such challenges include market disruptions and turbulences caused by introduction of new drug regulations and healthcare reform measures by both the central and local governments, looming reform of government drug pricing policies and latest price cuts on innovative category drugs, government preference of domestic large state-owned enterprises through unfair industrial policies, market access issues over essential drugs and low-tier markets, continuous financial pressures from hospital drug purchase tenders, and rising production and regulatory costs.
China Pharmaceutical Guide 2011 (6th Edition) is the most authoritative and comprehensive reference in English covering China’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector which has been widely subscribed by executives of MNCs, leading CROs, investment banking firms, consulting companies, industry associations and government agencies. Now in its sixth edition, this best-selling reference will continue to play an instrumental role in helping executives understand, navigate, manage and lead their pharmaceutical businesses in China.
- Authored by James J. Shen, a veteran pharmaceutical executive and the Publisher/Chief Editor of
Pharma China who has over 20 years of managing China and Asian pharmaceutical businesses as a leading China business consultant, multinational company executive and an entrepreneur.
- Prepared for the real world executives to help them navigate through the complex and turbulent Chinese healthcare business environment for success.
- Extensive coverage on China's pharmaceutical industry structure and market environment, regulatory framework, healthcare provision and financing, disease & drug consumption patterns, pharmaceutical sales, marketing & distribution, contemporary trends and opportunities, market entry strategies, case studies of successes and failures in six key areas of the Chinese pharmaceutical business, and profiles of leading MPCs in China.
- Comprehensive and latest data and statistics on the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and market, the Chinese healthcare sector, and disease & drug consumption patterns – much of the data made available exclusively by reputable sources to China Pharmaceutical Guide and Pharma China.
- A thorough review of contemporary issues and challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in China, as well as promising opportunities with many real world examples.
- A complete and clear picture of the Chinese drug regulatory framework is presented with thorough coverage of all regulations in drug registration, research/GLP, clinical/GCP, import and export, manufacture/GMP, packaging, advertising, distribution/GSP, OTC/ethical drug classification, adverse drug reaction monitoring, internet drug sales, physician drug prescription, etc. Summaries of all these regulations are provided with analysis. In addition, a thorough introduction of all drug related government agencies and industry associations is given with their functions analyzed.
- A growing collection of selected recent feature article contributions from industry experts and market research companies to
Pharma China covering extensive areas of interest including healthcare policy, strategic, marketing, regulatory, IPR and legal issues.
- A growing collection of mini case studies which are in six important areas including market entry, R&D outsourcing, human resource management, market size/information sources, legal/IPR battles and local success stories.
- Market entry strategies are evaluated and analyzed with real world examples.
- Profiles of MNC pharma companies are updated annually.
- Divided into 10 Parts with 53 Chapters excluding Preface, Executive Summary and Appendices, it has nearly 1,200 pages with at least 150 tables and charts.
- Updated annually, it ensures the most up-to-date coverage and trend analysis
The China Pharmaceutical Guide 2011 (6th Edition) has been thoroughly updated with ample latest data from many reputable sources, abundant analysis by leading industry experts, new regulations and more case studies. Its coverage was renewed and expanded significantly in the following areas:
- Hundreds of pages of new data, information, analysis and case studies.
- Thorough summaries and analysis of the latest healthcare reform, drug pricing & reimbursement and hospital tender purchase policies.
- Comprehensive industry, market and international trade data as well as health statistics are updated with the 2010 (full year) and early 2011 figures.
- A new section on high growth market segments and expanded coverage of the Chinese contract manufacturing (CMO) sector, licensing and R&D partnerships, and emerging legal issues.
- Comprehensive new top line data and research findings from our collaborative partners such as IMS Health, Synovate Healthcare, Nicholas Hall, ZS Associates and RDPAC.
- All regulatory changes in 2010/2011 are updated to present a clear and most up-to-date picture of the Chinese drug regulatory framework with summaries and analysis of all drug regulations in effect including new regulations by June 1, 2010.
- New and expanded coverage on MNC strategies in China with healthcare reform in the backdrop, intellectual property/patent law amendments, data exclusivity, patent litigation, drug regulations, pharmaceutical marketing and distribution strategies, drug consumption patterns, the Chinese R&D and outsourcing sector, clinical studies and practices, healthcare reform, community healthcare sector, essential drug policy, regional drug consumption patterns, the vaccine sector and the API sector.
- Numerous new case studies are added to the 2011 Edition.
- Comprehensive revision of MNC companies profiles to reflect their latest performance, business deals, legal disputes and outlook.
- Full text official translations of 11 Chinese laws and regulations directly related to pharmaceutical/healthcare businesses in China.
All purchasers of the
China Pharmaceutical Guide 2011 will receive one-year complimentary subscription of
Pharma China Weekly e-Alert
(Premium Edition) which provides a weekly summary of the top Chinese pharmaceutical news and
Breaking News Alerts which notifies subscribers of any major unfolding events in the Chinese pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
For further information, please contact WiCON International Group (
info@pharmachinaonline.com) to request a free promotional PDF containing the executive summary, the table of contents, the lists of tables and charts, and preface/bio of the author (available after 06/2011).
To download a brochure/order form and our promotional PDF online, please visit:
http://www.pharmachinaonline.com/download/index.asp.
WiCON International Group LLC