China’s Marine Drugs Account for Nearly 30% of Global Market
China has emerged as a global leader in marine pharmaceutical development, with Chinese-developed ocean-sourced drugs now accounting for nearly 30% of all approved marine drug categories worldwide, according to a People’s Daily report published June 13. The milestone comes alongside a landmark national policy — the first central government-level document supporting the marine biomedical industry — jointly issued in May 2026 by eight ministries including the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The “Blue Pharmacy” Vision
Marine drug development, often called the “blue pharmacy” (蓝色药库) initiative, taps into the vast biological resources of the ocean. Covering 71% of Earth’s surface, the ocean is home to 87% of the planet’s biomass. The unique high-pressure, high-salinity, low-temperature, and dark conditions of marine environments have driven the evolution of structurally novel compounds that cannot be found in terrestrial natural products.
“Deep-sea and polar undiscovered microbial species are estimated to be more than 10 times those on land, representing an ‘unknown treasure trove’ for new drugs and new functional genes,” Lin Longshan (林龙山), Deputy Director of the Third Institute of Oceanography under the Ministry of Natural Resources, told Guangming Daily.
A Rich History, Accelerating Progress
China is among the earliest civilizations to use marine organisms for medicine. The ancient medical classic “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) documented cuttlefish bone pills mixed with abalone juice for blood disorders. The Eastern Han Dynasty’s “Shennong Bencaojing” recorded 10 marine traditional medicines, while Li Shizhen’s Ming Dynasty masterpiece “Bencao Gangmu” expanded this to over 150 species.
Modern Chinese marine biomedical research began in the 1970s. The landmark achievement came in 1985 with the approval of Alginate Sodium Diester (PSS), China’s first modern marine drug. Since then, more than 10 modern marine drugs have been approved, including mannose ester, mannitol nicotinate, Haikun Shenxi, and GV-971 (sodium oligomannate). China has achieved particular international leadership in marine carbohydrate (sugar) drug development.
According to Zhang Donghua (张栋华), Professor at Ocean University of China and Executive Director of the Qingdao Marine Biomedical Research Institute, “Globally, more than 40,000 structurally unique marine natural products have been discovered, with over 40 marine drugs and derivative products approved for market, and over 100 drug candidates in clinical trials. The industry’s growth momentum is strong.”
Landmark Policy Framework
In May 2026, eight Chinese ministries jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Marine Drugs and Functional Products” — the first national-level policy document supporting the marine biomedical industry. As reported by China News Service, the policy aims for multiple marine innovative drugs to be approved by 2030, with industry added value exceeding 1.3 trillion RMB and comprehensive strength entering the international forefront.
Shen Jun (沈君), Director of the Marine Strategy Planning and Economic Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources, explained that the policy “focuses on the difficulties, pain points, and blocking issues of the industry, proposing targeted measures to coordinate and strengthen the full-chain innovation system construction of the marine biomedical industry.”
Industry Scale and Raw Material Dominance
China’s marine biomedical industry added value reached 996 billion RMB in 2025, growing nearly 40% since the start of the “14th Five-Year Plan” period in 2021. The country produces over 80% of the global supply of chitosan, sodium alginate, and other marine-derived raw material products. China has also discovered approximately 14,000 structurally novel marine natural products, accounting for about 35% of the global total, according to China Daily.
Clinical Trial Reform and Innovation Acceleration
The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has shortened the review and approval timeline for qualifying innovative drug clinical trial applications from 60 days to 30 days, Deputy Director Yu Jiangyong (于江泳) of the Drug Registration Management Department told reporters. “Through reforms, we have further optimized the review and approval of innovative drug clinical trials,” he said, noting that several ocean-sourced drug candidates have already received approval to begin clinical trials.
Challenges on the Path Forward
Despite these achievements, experts acknowledge significant hurdles. Zhang Wen (张文), Professor at Peking University Ningbo Marine Drug Research Institute, noted in Yicai/First Financial that “the output of China’s marine innovative drugs does not match the significant advantages in compound discovery. Insufficient early-stage druggability evaluation technology has led to inadequate basis for concept verification.”
Other challenges include long research and development cycles, high investment costs that deter social capital, a shortage of high-level specialized talent, and an incomplete “last mile” from laboratory to industrialization. Regional development also shows signs of low-level duplication and homogeneous competition.
AI and the Future of Marine Drug Discovery
The new policy explicitly promotes “AI + Marine Drug” development, including building high-quality datasets and a “Digital Intelligence Blue Pharmacy” large model. Coastal provinces including Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong are developing specialized industry clusters, with cities like Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Xiamen emerging as key hubs.
As China’s “blue pharmacy” continues to expand, the coming years will likely see more ocean-derived treatments reaching patients, potentially transforming therapeutic options for conditions ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. The combination of rich marine biodiversity, growing research capabilities, and unprecedented policy support positions China to play an increasingly influential role in the global marine pharmaceutical landscape.