China's biotech market drives up demand for primate experimental models, tightening lab monkey supply

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.

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.

Over US$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 per cent 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.