Multiple outlets report that prices for lab monkeys in China are rising sharply, becoming a visible indicator of the country’s expanding biotechnology and drug-development activity. The Next Web says the cost has climbed toward about 150,000 yuan (roughly $26,000), describing this as a steep increase over a relatively short period. It also notes the figure is higher than an earlier average of roughly 103,000 yuan reported for 2025.
Bloomberg adds that the higher costs are complicating new drug-development trials. It reports that the situation increases demand for primate imports from nearby countries, suggesting supply constraints are being felt by research teams. Together, the articles frame the price increases as tied to greater demand for primates used in preclinical or related stages of drug development, while also highlighting downstream operational impacts—namely trial logistics and sourcing of animals.
