Lab Monkey Prices in China Rise Sharply Amid Biotech Sector Growth

Rising demand for laboratory monkeys in China has led to substantial price increases, with costs now surpassing the national average annual wage. The trend reflects ongoing changes in the country’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

By early 2026, the price for a single laboratory monkey in China reached approximately 140,000 yuan, or about US$20,260. This figure is higher than the average yearly income for workers in the country, highlighting the impact of market pressures on research resources.

In February 2026, the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica allocated a budget of 62 million yuan to acquire 450 cynomolgus macaques, resulting in a per-animal cost close to 137,800 yuan. This procurement illustrates the high expenses research institutions face when sourcing animals for drug testing.

Industry data indicates that the price of laboratory monkeys fluctuated in recent years, peaking at around 188,000 yuan in 2022 before declining and then rising again in 2025 and 2026. The increase in prices has been associated with a surge in drug-licensing agreements involving Chinese biotechnology companies and international pharmaceutical firms, as well as renewed investment and public offerings in the sector.

What the numbers show

• Lab monkey prices in China were about 70,500 yuan in 2021
• In 2023, one agency paid around 170,000 yuan per monkey
• Projected prices for early 2026 are approximately 150,000 yuan

Supply constraints have played a role in driving up costs, as monkeys require about four years to reach maturity for laboratory use. This lengthy breeding period has limited the availability of animals, contributing to shortages and higher prices for research organizations.

Some clinical research organizations have postponed projects for several months due to the difficulty in obtaining enough lab monkeys. These delays have affected the timelines for drug development and testing within the industry.

Joinn Laboratories, a company involved in laboratory animal supply, stated that its net profit for 2025 is expected to be more than three times higher than the previous year. The company attributed this increase mainly to the rising value of its biological assets, particularly laboratory monkeys. Joinn Labs also estimated that the price for a three-to-five-year-old lab monkey reached about 140,000 yuan by late 2025.

According to industry data, the average price for lab monkeys in China was around 103,000 yuan in 2025, with projections indicating a further increase to about 150,000 yuan in early 2026. These figures underscore the ongoing impact of supply and demand dynamics in the Chinese biotechnology sector.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.