Lab monkey scarcity poses risk to China's biotech sector
Joinn Laboratories reported that demand for primate experimental models has surged as China's innovative drug market recovers. The price of a lab monkey has climbed to as high as 200,000 yuan in July, up from about 50,000 yuan in early 2025. The supply is tight because breeding rates remain stable.
Joinn Laboratories points to a resurgence in domestic financing and licensing activity as the primary driver of rising costs. The firm emphasizes that primate testing remains an essential step for verifying drug safety and efficacy before human trials begin.
Data from the national drug regulator shows that over US$110 billion in Chinese-developed drug candidates were traded across 81 out-licensing deals in the first half of the year, already reaching 80% of 2025's total. This influx of global demand is colliding with a monkey supply that has not expanded, as breeding rates stay flat.
The shortage could disproportionately affect smaller biotech firms that cannot absorb the steep price hikes, potentially delaying their research timelines. It may also inflate overall drug development costs, which could ultimately influence pricing for new therapies. While suppliers might benefit temporarily, the bottleneck could hinder the broader momentum of China's innovative drug sector if not addressed.