Chinese insulin market led by three pharmaceutical tycoons: Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi

Demand within the Chinese insulin market has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. Over the next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow.

China is the country with the largest number of diabetics. In 2011, the market scale of diabetes medicine in China approximated RMB13.8 billion, of which, insulin medicines comprising recombinant human insulin and insulin analog accounted for 52.8%.

Insulin is a peptide hormone, produced by beta cells of the pancreas, and is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body.

Insulin causes cells in the liver, skeletal muscles, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood. In the liver and skeletal muscles, glucose is stored as glycogen, and in adipocytes it is stored as triglycerides.

Due to high technological content and entry barriers, Chinese insulin market is monopolized by foreign corporations. In 2011, the combined market share of the three world-renowned pharmaceutical tycoons including Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, and Sanofi Group hit 90% in the Chinese market.

By contrast, the largest domestic counterpart- Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical -occupied merely 3.4% or so.

Denmark-based Novo Nordisk is not only the leader in global insulin industry, but also a major supplier in China's insulin market with the recombinant human insulin market share of 76% and the insulin analog market share of 53% in 2011.

America-based Eli Lilly and Company is the second embarking on Chinese insulin market, with the recombinant human insulin market share of 17% and the insulin analog market share of 8% in 2011.

For more information on the Chinese insulin market, see the latest research: Chinese Insulin Market

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