International drugmakers have accelerated their pace to
establish research input in China for new patented medicines.
During an ongoing conference held by International
Pharmaceutical Federation(FIP) in Beijing, pharmaceutist like
AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly and Pfizer have all displayed
their research bases or centers in China.
A report released by the National Development and Reform
Commission in July revealed that a lot of international drugmakers
have moved research and developing sectors to China.
International drugmakers have so far invested more than 500
million U.S. dollars to establish research centers in China.
Doctor Wang Xiaoliang, director of institute of Materia Medica,
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, believed that some Chinese
industrial zones like Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park in Shanghai have
become places attracting foreign drugmakers.
The World Health Organization announced in August that at least
39 new pathogenies have been found since 1967 and many traditional
viruses have also generated more variations and drug-resistance,
which compels more new patented medicines to come up.
However, IMS Health, a medical counseling company, indicated
that about 29 billion U.S. dollars worth prescription medicine
patents in the U.S. expired or were about to expire in recent two
years.
"Losing patents will have negative impact on international
drugmaker's profit," said Wang Liqun, a representitive with
AstraZeneca in China, "China with comparatively lower cost, more
medical talents and more market potential is really a good
choice."
Wang said his company has employed many Chinese local talents
cultivated by improved domestic education for administrators at
middle level and basic research staff.
"Establishing research centers in China will reduce
international drugmaker's cost to sell new medicines and attract
more talents from domestic companies," said Zhang Guojun, vice
chairman of the board of Zhejiang Medicine Co. Ltd.
Doctor Wang Xiaoliang believed that the competition for new
medicines and talents between foreign and domestic drugmakers will
benefit the market and make domestic companies stronger
eventually.
The doctor also said international drugmakers will cooperate
with domestic medical institutes and pharmaceutical companies to
carry out their research in China, which will also help more
Chinese relevant researchers and clinic doctors participate in
global medical research.
(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2007)
