Biopharma sector enters a greater stage of growth

Guangzhou has entered a new stage of growth in the biopharmaceutical industry, as the number of industrial parks there have continued to mushroom in recent years.

The industrial parks include Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou International Biotech Island, Guangzhou International Health Industry Area, Guangzhou International Medicine Port and the International Health Complex in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. Guangzhou International Biotech Island was launched in July 2011 at the core area of the Guangzhou National Biotech Industry Base and it is one hour's drive away from the downtown area.

The area has developed six functional sections including industrial incubators, research and innovation areas, an industrial service area, residential areas and public greens.

It enjoys a series of incentives from the Guangzhou city government, including an investment fund and comprehensive infrastructure for starting businesses, which are designed to attract companies from both China and abroad.

Guangzhou-based King-Med Diagnostics, a third-party company engaged in medical testing established in 1994 in the area, is one of the earliest commercial clinical laboratories in China.

As a representative company in the area, the company now provides more than 2,400 types of clinical tests and scientific research for healthcare institutions nationwide.

The South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine is a biomedical research institution in the area funded by Guangdong province, Guangzhou city and Guangzhou Development District.

The center conducts research and development for techniques and products in stem cells and organ regeneration, and develops medicines.

Guangzhou International Biotech Island has gathered about 173 high-profile projects funded by biomedical companies and organizations worldwide.

It is expected that by 2020, the area will be home to a total of 300 major biomedical projects and the total annual output will reach 8 billion yuan ($1.25 billion).

Officials said that in order to create a better living and working environment for local businesspeople, employees and residents, the area's administration body injected a total of 9.35 billion yuan into fixed-asset investments - to support construction of streets, plants, green parks, water and electricity supply systems as well as rubbish and sewage disposal facilities.

In July, General Electric announced it will launch an $800-million bio-industry park in the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City in Guangzhou Development District.

Once completed, the project is expected to have an output value of more than $4 billion, which will give a big boost to Guangzhou's biopharmaceutical industry, according to the company.

"The GE bio-industry park is an unprecedented step for GE to explore cooperation with the government of Guangzhou in the field of biomedicines," said GE China CEO Duan Xiaoying.

"We hope that through sharing resources and complementary advantages, the park can be built into a world-class biopharmaceutical ecosystem."

Last year, the city's biopharmaceutical industry achieved output value of 4.5 billion yuan.

To date, the city's biopharma enterprises have formed an industrial chain extending to R&D, genetic engineering and production, as well as sales of medicines, equipment and reagents.

Guangzhou's officials said the city welcomes investments from international biopharma groups, especially for studies about modernizing traditional Chinese medicines, and the development of chemical pharmaceuticals and medical devices.