China needs monkeys: lab animal shortage could hinder biotech growth
China’s biotechnology market has “significantly” driven up the demand for primate experimental models as the market recovers, tightening the supply of laboratory monkeys, according to a leading biotech firm. The continued recovery of fundraising and out-licensing deals in innovative drugs in China this year has led to significant growth in the demand for primate experimental models, research firm…
China's biotechnology market is experiencing a surge in demand for primate experimental models, driving up the price of laboratory monkeys, according to a leading biotech firm. This increase in demand can be attributed to the market's recovery, which has been fueled by the growth in fundraising and out-licensing deals for innovative drugs.
Primate experiments are used to test the safety and efficacy of drugs before clinical trials on humans. The price of a lab monkey has reached as high as 200,000 yuan (US$29,802) in July, up from around 50,000 yuan in early 2025. The shortage of lab monkeys in China is projected to range between 15,000 and 20,000 between 2026 and 2028.
Joinn Laboratories, a Hong Kong-listed firm, has significantly benefited from China's biotech boom, with its shares skyrocketing over 150% since 2025. The company reported a net profit of 747.5 million yuan in the first half of the year, marking an 11-fold growth year on year.
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