Summary of Key Points
Recently, experimental monkeys (especially rhesus monkeys) have become increasingly scarce, with prices soaring to nearly 200,000 yuan—similar to the levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge in demand is driven by the renewed enthusiasm for new drug development, particularly for biopharmaceuticals involving large molecular drugs. However, the supply side struggles to keep up due to long breeding cycles and overexploitation of monkey populations. There may also be artificial factors such as CRO (Contract Research Organization) companies hoarding monkeys to drive up prices. The price increase directly raises the research and development (R&D) costs for pharmaceutical companies. To address this shortage, improvements in technology or imports are needed; however, importing monkeys poses risks of introducing diseases, and alternative technologies (such as organoids) have not yet become a complete substitute.
I. Why Have Monkey Prices Soared Again? Three Main Factors
1. Demand Side: Increased Interest in New Drug Development
There has been a resurgence in new drug development in China: In 2025, the total number of clinical trials exceeded 5,000 for the first time, with new drugs accounting for more than half of them. The amount of pharmaceutical transactions overseas in the first half of 2026 was nearly 73% of the annual total for 2025. Biopharmaceuticals involving large molecular drugs (such as ADCs, small nucleic acids, and CGTs) require a large number of experimental monkeys, as these drugs do not show significant effects in animals like mice. As demand increases, monkey prices naturally rise.
2. Supply Side: Slow Reproduction and Overexploitation
It takes 6-7 years for rhesus monkeys to reach maturity and be suitable for experiments (they become sexually active at 4 years old, gestate for half a year, and the offspring are ready for use at 2-3 years). With high prices, breeding companies sell all available monkeys rather than keeping them for reproduction, which leads to an aging population and further reduces future production capacity.
3. Artificial Factors: Panic Buying and Hoarding
Pharmaceutical companies, fearing a shortage, start booking monkeys six months in advance, creating a panic buying situation. Some CRO companies also deliberately hoard monkeys to inflate prices, exacerbating the issue.
II. Why Are Experimental Monkeys Essential? They Are the “Most Human-like Substitutes”
Experimental monkeys (especially rhesus monkeys) are indispensable for new drug development:
- High Similarity to Humans: The genetic and physiological structures of rhesus monkeys are very similar to those of humans, allowing for a more accurate reflection of drug effects in humans. For example, biopharmaceuticals like monoclonal antibodies show no response in mice and can only be tested on monkeys.
- Rhesus Monkeys Are More Preferred: They provide comprehensive data (due to earlier research) and are smaller in size, requiring fewer animals, thus saving costs compared to larger and more difficult-to-manage baboons.
III. Why Can the Supply Shortage Not Be Met? A Slow Breeding Cycle Meets Short-sighted Selling Practices
1. Long Breeding Cycle: It takes 6-7 years for a monkey to be ready for experiments, which is far too slow to meet the rapid pace of new drug development.
2. Overexploitation of Monkey Populations: When prices are high, companies sell all monkeys rather than breeding them, leading to an aging population and fewer animals available for reproduction in the future.
3. Import Risks: Previous temporary imports introduced diseases such as tuberculosis. Few monkeys meet the strict “five-negative” criteria (free from five types of bacteria), making imports potentially unprofitable.
IV. The Price Increase Places Heavy Pressure on Pharmaceutical Companies
Experimental monkeys are a significant cost in preclinical research:
- Cost Calculation: Preclinical studies for a new drug application (IND) can cost up to 20 million yuan, which is more expensive than Phase I human trials. The cost of monkeys alone accounts for a substantial portion of this—58 monkeys are needed for safety evaluations, costing 11.6 million yuan.
- Impact on Small Companies: Larger companies can establish their own monkey farms, but smaller ones must rely on purchases, putting them under greater financial pressure and potentially slowing down R&D progress.
V. How to Address the Shortage? Short-term Solutions Are Limited; Long-term Solutions Require Technology
1. Improving Breeding Techniques: Using assisted reproduction methods (such as in vitro fertilization) to increase the number of offspring from older monkeys or optimizing population management can help stabilize the supply.
2. Alternative Technologies Are Still Emerging: Organoids (cultured from human cells) can assist in testing, but they cannot completely replace monkeys, as monkeys provide a living model that reflects overall physiological responses.
3. Stabilizing the Industry: Avoiding cyclical fluctuations in monkey prices (selling breeding animals when prices are high and not breeding them when prices are low) and establishing a stable reserve system will encourage companies to invest in long-term monkey conservation.
In summary, the scarcity of experimental monkeys reflects the thriving new drug development industry. However, the slow and chaotic supply side highlights industry challenges. To overcome these issues, a combination of technological advancements, policy support, and industry self-regulation is needed to prevent monkey shortages from becoming a major obstacle to innovation.