1. Traditional Chinese Medicine

The strong growing demand for TCM in China and South East Asia gives an optimistic outlook for the Group. In particular, TCM is forms a large segment of the pharmaceutical market in China. In 2007, sales revenue for TCM products in China reached approximately US$21 billion, accounting for around 40% of the total pharmaceutical market in China . In terms of sales volume, TCM represents two-third of drug sales in China and sales in TCM are forecast to reach US$28 billion this year.

2. TCM Market 

TCM

The strong growing demand for TCM in China and South East Asia gives an optimistic outlook for the Group. In particular, TCM is forms a large segment of the pharmaceutical market in China. In 2007, sales revenue for TCM products in China reached approximately US$21 billion, accounting for around 40% of the total pharmaceutical market in China^[2]. In terms of sales volume, TCM represents two-third of drug sales in China and sales in TCM are forecast to reach US$28 billion this year.^[3]

Market size and potential of influenza (including Influenza A) drugs

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The most common symptoms of the disease are sore throat, fever and coughs. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease than the common cold and is caused by a different type of virus. Influenza A and Influenza B are strains of the RNA viruses. There are several sub-types of Influenza A including H1N1, which is more commonly known as “Swine flu”, and H5N1, commonly referred to as “bird flu” or “Avian flu” .

The market size and potential of influenza drugs are enormous as influenza has long been recognised as a universal threat to the human population. One of the most disastrous outbreaks of influenza was the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 which infected an estimated 500 million people and killed an estimated 8 - 10% of the persons infected^[4]. In recent years, Avian flu has killed at least 294 people around the world since 2003, particularly in Southeast Asia^[5]. The recent outbreak of pandemic Swine Flu, in 2009 has similarly threatened countries all over the world because the virus spreads quickly and widely. As at 13 June 2010, more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic Swine Flu, including more than 18,172 deaths.^[6] The World Health Organisation, governments and the pharmaceutical industry have made significant investments on the prevention and cure of the disease in terms of research and purchase of Influenza A (H1N1) virus medicines.

Clinics and Hospitals

Most hospitals in China are owned and operated by the Chinese government while clinics are mainly privately owned. In many instances, medical clinics are the first point of contact that patients establish with medical professionals. In China, outpatients typically obtain their prescriptions at hospital or clinic pharmacies, unlike in the United States and in other developed countries, where patients typically obtain their prescriptions at pharmacies unaffiliated with the medical service provider. In China, hospitals account for just below 80% of the pharmaceutical market, as they are in the enviable position of being both prescribers and dispensers.

TCM hospitals account for 16% of all hospitals in China, and over 75% of town hospitals have TCM departments.^[7] TCM outpatient departments and clinics account for more than 16% of all outpatient departments and clinics and in 2007, some 234 million people were treated in TCM outpatient departments^[8]. In recent years, the Government has pushed hospitals and clinics to become profitable and continues reduce the amount of public sector spending on health while at the same time encouraging private expenditure. The number of hospitals is set to drop over the next five years, while admissions will increase as the population continues to grow and age.