Xinxiang, Henan: Striving to Build a National Bioindustry

According to a report by China Economic Net from Xinxiang on May 24 (reporters Dang Dihuan and intern Mo Fan), the High-Level Forum on China’s Bio-Industry Development was recently held in Xinxiang, Henan Province. More than 30 scholars, experts, and business leaders from across the country’s bio-industry sector attended the forum, where they discussed topics including the direction of bio-industry development, cutting-edge biotechnology, and the locational advantages of Xinxiang’s bio-industrial zone. This marks the beginning of a new phase for Xinxiang’s bio-industry—a phase characterized by scientific and systematic, sustained development.

In recent years, Xinxiang City has seen rapid development in its biopharmaceutical industry, with products covering a wide range of fields including biopharmaceuticals, traditional Chinese medicine, and Western pharmaceuticals. The industrial chain is relatively complete, and the industry’s distinctive features and advantages have become prominent across numerous sectors. As a result, the biopharmaceutical industry has emerged as a key pillar of Xinxiang’s economy. Currently, the city has established several specialized industrial clusters: a modern biopharmaceutical cluster characterized by blood products and vaccines; an active pharmaceutical ingredient and pharmaceutical intermediate cluster distinguished by nucleoside (acid) series and antibiotics; a traditional Chinese medicine cluster highlighted by standardized cultivation and processing of medicinal herbs such as honeysuckle, bupleurum, and safflower; a medical supplies cluster featuring medical devices, biomaterial products, medical polymer materials, and civilian sanitary products; and a bio-agriculture and bioenergy cluster centered on biological seed industries, green pesticides based on paclitaxel derivatives, fuel ethanol, and straw-to-energy conversion.

The bio-industry boasts strong capabilities and a sizable market. Hualan Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., as a large-scale, nationally designated manufacturer of biological products, was the first domestic enterprise to obtain GMP certification for blood-product manufacturing. It holds a leading position in both technological prowess and production scale within the domestic industry. Currently, by implementing major science and technology projects such as the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine and therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine, Hualan has not only consolidated its dominant position in the blood-products sector but has also successfully transitioned and upgraded its core product lineup toward vaccines. In 2009, as the first domestic company to acquire a production strain, Hualan swiftly launched the development of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine. Within just three months, it completed all necessary testing—covering research, production, clinical efficacy, and safety—of this vaccine. By mid-September, the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine was officially put into use for mass vaccination, making Hualan Biological Engineering Co., Ltd. the world’s first company to provide an influenza A (H1N1) vaccine for mass immunization. To date, the bio-industry in Xinxiang accounts for more than one-quarter of Henan Province’s total bio-industry output. Among them, Hualan Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., Tuoxin Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd., and Xinyi Pharmaceutical have been newly recognized as National High-Tech Enterprises. The annual output value of Xinxiang’s biopharmaceutical industry has exceeded 5 billion yuan. Its blood-products sector ranks among the top nationwide in overall scale, while its vaccine segment has rapidly risen to prominence. The diagnostics-reagent sector demonstrates strong innovation capabilities, and its chemical-drug portfolio is highly diversified. A range of products—including blood products and nucleoside (acid) series—with independent intellectual property rights now occupy significant market shares.

Traditional Chinese medicine, when combined with modern technology, boasts a high level of scientific and technological content. Fengqiu County is a national production base for honeysuckle flowers, ranking first in the country in both cultivation scale and product quality; it received the National Geographical Indication Certificate for Honeysuckle Flowers in 2003. Huixian County, as a major production area for medicinal herbs such as Bupleurum and Leonurus cardiaca, annually supplies pharmaceutical companies with substantial quantities of raw materials on a regular basis. The Xin Yi Pharmaceutical Group’s Class II new drug, Tanre Qing Injection, has achieved annual sales exceeding 170 million yuan for this single product alone. Zuo Jin Ming Pharmaceutical’s flagship product, Bai Ke Jing Syrup, has consistently ranked among the top three best-selling products of its kind in regions including Central China, North China, and East China for several consecutive years. Hengjiuyuan Pharmaceutical is one of only two enterprises nationwide licensed to manufacture cardiovascular and cerebrovascular drugs—specifically, the “Huoxue Tongmai Capsules”—and holds over 70% of the national market share for this product. In 2009, Huixian City in Xinxiang was approved to establish the “China Medicinal Herb Base and Year-Round Exhibition,” marking that Huixian City—the “Baiquan Pharmaceutical Capital”—will become the only domestic venue relying on a national medicinal herb production base to host year-round exhibitions and trading of various medicinal herb varieties. Huixian City has thus emerged as a vibrant hub integrating medicinal herb cultivation, sales, processing, and distribution, serving as a key distribution center for filter cartridges.

In addition, chemical pharmaceutical products from Xinxiang also enjoy a high market share. Among them, Xinxiang Huaxing Pharmaceutical Factory is a major national producer of penicillin and inosine. The XinYi Pharmaceutical Group’s flagship product, Kaisilai, has been a leader in the domestic market for liver disease medications for many years. Moreover, 80% of the nucleoside (acid) series of pharmaceutical intermediates produced by Xinxiang Tuoxin Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd. are exported to regions and countries including Europe, North America, Japan, and South Korea.

The integration of industry, academia, and research in the biotechnology sector has fostered strong R&D capabilities. Xinxiang places great emphasis on strengthening cooperation with universities and research institutions both at home and abroad, thus establishing a self-reliant R&D system centered on enterprises and characterized by the close integration of industry, academia, and research. The Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry at Henan Normal University, located in Xinxiang City, has facilitated long-term and stable technological partnerships between numerous local pharmaceutical companies and renowned institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hunan University, Donghua University, and Henan Normal University. To date, Xinxiang has accumulated over 200 scientific research achievements in the biotechnology sector, filed more than 50 patent applications, and received nearly 100 awards for scientific and technological progress. Furthermore, Xinxiang has undertaken a total of 31 provincial-level or higher science and technology projects, including the national “863” Program, the Torch Program, and major provincial science and technology special projects.

By the end of 2009, Xinxiang’s bio-industry had achieved sales revenue of 16.31 billion yuan, accounting for 10% of the city’s total industrial output value and contributing 20% to the local fiscal revenue. Xinxiang now has 10 pharmaceutical enterprises with annual output values exceeding 100 million yuan. In February of this year, Xinxiang was designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology as the “National Torch Program Xinxiang Biopharmaceutical Specialized Industrial Base.”