A new survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers indicates that Asia is likely to become the top market in the world for medicines, and a major center for research and manufacturing. Of the 185 executives from domestic and multinational companies (MNCs) in Asia who were surveyed, 58% believe that the pharmaceutical industry will shift its focus to Asia. About 33% of the MNCs intend to expand in Asia through acquisitions or establishing new sites in the region. China and India are the most popular locations, followed by Singapore and South Korea. Better patent protection is also a factor of Asia’s rise, as 75% of respondents said intellectual property protection in Asia improved over the last five years.

Source: Reuters