China needs monkeys: lab animal shortage could hinder biotech growth

As fundraising and out-licensing deals in China grow, so does demand for monkeys and other primates for testing

HONG KONG — 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 Joinn Laboratories (China) reported on Tuesday.

Primate experiments typically use monkeys and other non-human species to test the safety and efficacy of a drug under development before clinical trials on humans.

As global pharmaceutical giants continued their buying spree for China’s cheaper innovative drugs, the price of a lab monkey has climbed as high as 200,000 yuan (US$29,802) in July, compared with only about 50,000 yuan in early 2025, according to Chinese media.

Over $110 billion worth of Chinese-developed drug candidates were traded in 81 out-licensing deals in the first half of the year, equivalent to 80% of the full-year value in 2025, data from China’s National Medical Products Administration showed.

Joinn added that the price increase resulted from the tightened supply of non-human primates for experimental use in China, as their breeding rate has remained relatively stable.

Monkeys climb onto a tourist during the annual Monkey Festival in Lop Buri province. (Photo: Reuters)