China is an increasingly important region for outsourced manufacturing and research in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly as a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It is also an important destination for clinical trials and other areas such as biotechnological research, being prominent in biomarkers, genomic sequencing and regenerative medicine. It is also the largest market for biosimilars.

A new report, published this month by London-based business information company Visiongain, predicts that the Chinese pharmaceutical market will experience sustained double-digit growth over the next decade, driven by state investment in the national healthcare system.

According to the Chinese Pharmaceutical Market 2012-2022 report, revenues will rise to US$116.8bn in 2015 and increase further to 2022. In 2010, the Chinese market for pharmaceuticals was worth $53.3bn, nearly a quarter of which came from anti-infective drugs.