Why China is becoming strategic for Ophthalmology and CDMOs
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2 min read
Last month, the China Health Club brought together French stakeholders active in the Chinese market to discuss the major trends reshaping global healthcare, including digitalization, the silver economy, and evolving industrial dynamics.
Invited to the session, Ni Zeng, Head of Innovation and Development Services Valorization at Unither Pharmaceuticals, shared her perspective on a market that has become increasingly strategic for pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs investing in co-development.
Why is China an important market for Unither?
China is a key market for Unither. Following the opening of its first subsidiary in Wuhan in 2016 and the acquisition of a manufacturing site in Nanjing in 2020, the company has strengthened its presence to address growing healthcare needs, particularly in ophthalmology and respiratory therapies.
How do national policies influence the pharmaceutical industry?
At Unither, we observe that policies such as generic drug consistency evaluations and the Volume-Based Procurement (VBP) program are encouraging pharmaceutical companies to differentiate their products and invest in innovation.
What are the specificities of the Chinese ophthalmic market?
The Chinese ophthalmic drug market now exceeds 40 billion yuan, despite the impact of VBP policies. Most eye drops currently marketed in China are supplied in multidose bottles containing preservatives, which may lead to side effects with repeated use. Preservative-free single-dose formats offer an alternative that addresses both patient needs and manufacturers’ product differentiation strategies.
How is Unither supporting this growing demand?
To support both domestic and international customers expanding in China, Unither has invested in four BFS production lines, representing a capacity of 400 million doses per year. The company plans to double this capacity over the next five years to meet increasing market demand.
How do you see the transformation of China’s pharmaceutical sector?
As highlighted during the roundtable discussion, China has evolved from being primarily a producer of generic medicines to becoming a significant innovator in pharmaceutical development.
What does this mean for Unither as a CDMO and co-development partner?
For Unither, this evolution creates major opportunities, both through its CDMO activities in China and through co-development partnerships that support Chinese pharmaceutical companies in bringing innovative products to international markets.
Interested in learning more about our co-development and out-licensing services? Contact us.
About Unither Pharmaceuticals
Unither Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical CDMO specializing in the development and manufacturing of single-dose and multidose liquid formulations, including eye drops, saline solutions, asthma medications in BFS single-dose formats, and oral liquid stick packs.
With 2,300 employees, eight manufacturing sites across France, the United States, Brazil, and China, and an R&D center in France, Unither Pharmaceuticals reported €522 million in revenue in 2024. For more information, visit the company’s website