China's Pharma Industry Faces Primate Shortage Amid Rising Drug Development Demands
China's pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a significant shortage of lab monkeys, crucial for drug development, as demand for primate safety data surges. The price for cynomolgus macaques has doubled over the past year, reaching approximately $26,294 each. This increase is attributed to China's expanding role in the global drug pipeline, now accounting for a third of it. The shortage is not due to a supply collapse but rather a dramatic rise in demand, as China becomes a top destination for clinical trials. The scarcity of lab monkeys is delaying drug trials and preclinical studies, with some projects facing delays of up to ten months. This situation is exacerbated by regulatory requirements that monkeys used in testing must be at least three years old, meaning the current shortfall cannot be quickly resolved through breeding. 
