In addition to opportunities arising from the U.S. Biosafety Act, the demographic dividends in ASEAN and China are attracting biotech companies to collaborate and expand their presence. Grape King Bio has partnered with Uni-President and All Cosmos Bio-Tech Holding Corporation (All Cosmos-KY), while Great Tree Pharmacy is teaming up with SunWay Biotech and Formosa Biomedical Technology. Meanwhile, Chlitina-KY has joined forces with General Biologicals and U-Neuron Biomedical, igniting a new wave of growth momentum.
Industry experts note that while biotech companies focus on the U.S. market for its vast pharmaceutical opportunities, their strategy in ASEAN and China centers primarily on health supplements and beauty products.
Eyeing the high-growth opportunity in ASEAN's health supplement market, which exceeds $5 billion annually, Grape King Bio has not only established a halal-certified production line at its Zhongli plant to cater to the dietary needs of the large Muslim population, but has also formed a joint venture with All Cosmos to create GK BIO. The company anticipates revenue contributions as early as the end of this year. Additionally, its subsidiary, Pro-Partner, is set to enter the Malaysian direct sales market in the first half of next year, marking its first international expansion.
In 2021, Grape King Bio brought in Uni-President Group, which invested approximately NT$2 billion. This strategic investment has enabled comprehensive collaboration between the two companies, extending from Taiwan to markets in China and beyond.
Great Tree Pharmacy is adopting a diversified strategy. In addition to forming a joint venture with SunWay Biotech in Malaysia to launch its own brand of health supplements, it has also partnered with local teams to establish a company that will distribute Formosa Biomedical Technology’s product line throughout Southeast Asia.
Chlitina-KY is aggressively expanding into the health and wellness industry, focusing on markets across Taiwan and China. In recent years, the company has acquired stakes in General Biologicals and U-Neuron Biomedical, becoming a key client for the promotion of their products in both markets.
Chlitina-KY is particularly interested in General Biologicals' patented antimicrobial peptide, P113, which offers a competitive edge. The company is actively assisting General Biologicals in developing a series of products and boosting their market visibility. Additionally, Chlitina-KY has partnered with U-Neuron Biomedical to tap into the anti-aging market, with plans to introduce more product lines in China by next year.
Resource (mandarin): 生技廠同時瞄準東協、中國人口紅利
