Sales for the largest 100 Chinese pharmaceutical firms increased 25.1% last year to $50.22 million to represent 42% of industry sales, according to the Southern Medicine Economic Research Institute, part of the State Food and Drug Administration. Total revenues for China’s pharmaceutical industry rose 20.8%. The top three drug companies were Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, Shijiazhuanh Pharmaceutical Group and Shanghai Pharmaceutical. Sales for the country’s 100 largest drug distributors, which each had annual sales of more than $125.55 million, made up 67%–70% of 2009 revenues for China’s drug distribution industry. The three largest distributors were China National Pharmaceutical Group, Shanghai Pharmaceutical and Jointown Pharmaceutical Group. Acquisitions in 2009 suggest that top distributors will broaden their activities to include integrated services.

Source: Interfax.cn