CPHI & P-MEC China explores emerging trends in biopharm and pharma packaging

New regulations speeding up growth with exports to Japan targeted.

At CPHI and P-MEC China pharma professionals engaged in deep discussions on the exciting innovations revolutionizing the regional industry and its vast export potential. China is making strides to be the most innovative player in the pharma value chain, and foreign investors are increasingly targeting the country, adding to the considerable domestic investment already available.

To augment domestic growth, the government has focused on reforming the pharmaceutical approval system, with efforts to clear the drug application backlog under way. These changes will increase administrative efficiency and give Chinese pharma companies a competitive advantage in the global market.

During the International Summit for Pharmaceutical Packaging and Drug Delivery Systems, it was predicted that the packaging sector would have an average growth rate of roughly 10% per annum for the next few years, and it is becoming an increasingly lucrative market in the Chinese economy.

Another trend to emerge from the exhibition is the rapid development of the biopharmaceutical sector in the country. Seminars examined issues such as ‘Challenges and Opportunities for the R&D of Biosimilars’, which covered the difficulties, quality, and learning applications of biosimilars. Already the largest producer of pharma ingredients globally – 82% of China’s exports are bulk ingredients – China has plans to establish itself as a competitive player in the biomedical drug trade. The session on ‘How to improve the quality and yield of the materials in the sterile production’ provided essential insights for China’s early stage biologics community who are now looking to scale up their operations.

Finally, many Chinese companies are also exploring exporting high-value APIs in new markets, with Japan as primary target, and CPHI China featured the China-Japan Pharmaceutical Industrial Symposium, which included sessions on ‘trading problems and solutions for APIs’, and ‘Japanese market entry strategies’.

In 2016, CPHI and P-MEC China added 10,000 additional square metres of floor space, increasing the total exhibition area to 160,000 square metres. Growth from the 2015 exhibition and conference numbers demonstrates the parallel growth of the Chinese economy. Overall, the programme included contributions from 182 speakers, 50 seminars, 24 forums, and two C-level networking events.

Domestic biopharmaceutical giants such as Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Tonghua Dongbao, Shenzhen Mellow Hope and Dongcheng Biochemicals, along with international CROs like Wuxi Apptec, ChemPartner, Asychem, and Chiral Quest all attended the event to push forward Chinese pharma growth.

“We are delighted with the success and record-breaking turnout of the 16th edition of CPHI China, as well as being a hub of new business and partnerships, it is also a key event to monitor the latest trends across this dynamic pharma manufacturing region and economy. By bringing together this many executives and pharma supply companies we are actively helping drive forward innovation. Each year new audiences and exhibitors attend the exhibition with biopharmaceutical, pharma machinery, natural extracts, packaging companies and CROs adding to the over 1000+ pharma ingredient suppliers. Over the next few years we anticipate the increased internationalization of this event,” said Chris Kilbee Brand Director Pharma at UBM EMEA.