What are pharmaceutical intermediates? Is it worth investing in?

Pharmaceutical intermediates are actually some chemical raw materials or chemical products used in the process of drug synthesis. This chemical product does not need a pharmaceutical production license, can be produced in ordinary chemical plants, as long as it reaches a certain level, can be used in the synthesis of drugs.

More THAN 2000 KINDS OF RAW MATERIAL AND INTERMEDIATE ARE NEEDED WITH CHEMICAL INDUSTRY EVERY YEAR, DEMAND AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION TONS. After more than 30 years of development, the chemical raw materials and intermediates needed by Chinese medicine production can be basically supporting, only a little part needs to be imported. Moreover, since our resources are relatively abundant and the price of raw materials is lower, there are many intermediates realizing large quantities of export. So what are the opportunities for development in the field of Chinese medicine intermediates? Is it worth investing in?

Our β-lactam antibiotics have formed a complete production system after nearly 50 years of development. In 2012, almost all β-lactam antibiotics (except those within the patent period) can be produced in China, and the cost is very low. The production of penicillin ranks first in the world, and a large number of exports supply the market. Cephalosporin antibiotics can basically be self-sufficient, but also strive for a part of the export.

In 2012, all intermediates supporting β-lactam antibiotics could be produced in China by ourselves. Except for the parent nuclei of semi-synthetic antibiotics, 7-ACA and 7-ADCA, which need to be partially imported, all side chain intermediates could be produced and exported in large quantities.

Taking phenylacetic acid, the main supporting intermediate of β-lactam antibiotics, as an example, there are nearly 30 manufacturers of phenylacetic acid in China, with a total annual capacity of about 20,000 tons. But most are small, with the larger producing 2,000 tons a year and most others producing hundreds of tons a year. In 2003, the total demand for phenylacetic acid in China was about 14,000 tons, and the consumption structure was: penicillin G accounted for 85%, other medicines 4%, spices 7%, pesticides and other fields 4%.

With the development of domestic spices, medicine, pesticides and other industries, phenylacetic acid demand will further increase. By 2005, the pharmaceutical industry will consume about 14,000 tons of phenylacetic acid, the pesticide industry will consume 500 tons, and the spice industry will consume about 2,000 tons. The total domestic demand for phenylacetic acid in 2005 is expected to reach 18,000 tons.