In today’s talking points: Nestlè invests in building two new factories, aiming to boost their China market; Chinese firm’s money floods US Biotech as Beijing joins the Chase for New Cures; Outpatient Data Monitoring System to Roll out In Chinese Hospitals Later this Year; China’s Pharmaceutical Industry is Poised for Major Growth
Nestlè invests in building two new factories, aiming to boost their China market.
On the 24th April, Nestlè announced the creation of two manufacturing facilities in Jiangsu Province, emphasizing the company’s confidence in the future of the China market. The factories represent a total investment of RMB 1 Billion, and will focus on strengthening Nestlè’s nutritional therapy and dermatology business in China. The two factories serve Nestlè’s Health Science division, including a portfolio of nutrition solutions, diagnostics, and devices and drugs. Rashid Qureshi, Chairman and CEO of Nestlè said that the new factories underscore the company’s commitment to the China market, and a commitment to “nutrition, health and wellness, which is fully in line with the government’s priority to build a healthier China”.
Read more on Shine.cn
Chinese firm’s money floods US Biotech as Beijing joins the Chase for New Cures
Chinese investors are pumping money into U.S biotech start-ups as Beijing seeks to become a global leader in new therapies, adding extra cash flow to ground-breaking health firms. Venture funds based in China provided $1.4 Billion into U.S Biotech firms in the three months ending March 31st, accounting for 40% of the $3.7 Billion raised by these firms in the same period. This is up from the $125.5 million raised in the same time period a year ago. Chinese policy makers are aiming to encourage more innovation in the Chinese market, which is currently very manufacturing intensive. By investing in these firms, Chinese companies can gain earlier and easier access to ground-breaking therapies typically brought to the market in the West first.
Read more on Bloomberg
Outpatient Data Monitoring System to Roll out In Chinese Hospitals Later this Year
British software developer Medopad and partners in China have joined together to bring an outpatient monitoring system to Chinese hopsitals later this year. The system is designed to collect biometric data on outpatients suffering from chronic diseases, and will be trialled in mainland hospitals this year. Medopad is developing a digital platform to collect data from wearable electronic devices on patients with chronic diseases, sharing the data with hospitals, pharmaceutical and insurance companies to save medical costs and enhancement treatment effectiveness. The platform will be rolled out later this year in more than 10 hospitals affiliated with Peking University and Capital Medical University.
Read more on South China Morning Post
China’s Pharmaceutical Industry is Poised for Major Growth
The manufacturing powerhouse China is continuing its shift towards a more value-added economy, where the industry poised to see the biggest growth is the Pharmaceutical industry. Although the development of the healthcare industry is in its infancy compared to other Western countries, the industry is poised to experience massive growth in the coming years, due to high investment rates and increasing regulatory acceptance of Chinese made drugs. The market’s compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017 was 9.3%, and last year Chinese pharmaceutical companies obtained US FDA approval for 38 drugs, up from 22 in the year previous. President Xi has identified the pharmaceutical sector as one to promote, focusing on home-grown research and development.
Read more on CNBC