34 Traditional Chinese Medicines for Sore Throat Surge with Exclusive Products Up 627%; Darun堂, Leiyunshang, and Huasen Highlighted as TCM New Drug Development Gains Momentum

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During the high-incidence period of throat diseases, data from Menet shows that the sales revenue of traditional Chinese medicine for throat in China's three major terminals and six major markets increased by 12.08% year-on-year in H1 2024. Among the top 20 brands in public medical institutions, 16 exclusive varieties made the list, with Waston's Ganjie Bingmei Tablets retaining the top position; brands such as Beilin Pharmaceutical, Shanghai Leiyunshang, and Guizhou Sanli also made the list. In the top 20 brands in physical pharmacies, Jinsengzi Throat Tablets firmly held the top sales position, with Guilin Sanjin, Jiangzhong, and Darentang also listed.

Market for Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Throat Surges 12%! Physical Pharmacies Account for Over 60%

The peak season for throat diseases is mainly in the autumn and winter, which is the time when traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for throat conditions truly shines. Data from Menet shows that in recent years, the market for TCM throat remedies has continued to expand. In 2023, sales in China's three major terminals and six key markets (see the end of this article for statistical scope) approached 7 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.6%. In the first half of 2024, sales exceeded 3.8 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 12.08%.

Sales of Chinese Patent Medicine for Throat in China's Three Major Terminals and Six Markets (Unit: Ten Thousand Yuan)

Source: Menet Network Pattern Database

From the perspective of the three major terminals, the year-on-year growth rates of the sales of traditional Chinese medicine for throat in public hospital terminals, public primary healthcare terminals, and retail pharmacy terminals in the first half of the year were 14.18%, 13.95%, and 11.10%, respectively. Among them, urban physical pharmacies are the main sales market for traditional Chinese medicine for throat, accounting for 63.25% and 61.05% of the market share in the first half of 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Currently, the main types of Chinese patent medicines for throat available on the market include tablets, powders/granules, pills, capsules, inhalants, etc. Among them, throat Chinese patent medicines in tablet form are the best-selling, accounting for 44.05% and 42.68% of the market share in 2023 and the first half of 2024, respectively; the sales of powders/granules rank second, accounting for 19%; the sales of pills rank third, accounting for 17.41%.

Notably, there are not many companies in China that have ventured into new throat-related traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) drugs. Waston's Category 2.1 modified TCM new drug, Qing Hou Yan Lozenges, was submitted for market approval in September 2023, while Guizhou Ruihe Pharmaceutical's Category 1.1 TCM new drug, Hou Yin Qing Capsules, was submitted for market approval in January 2024.

From 2022 to present, only three Chinese medicine new drugs have been approved for clinical trials in China: Wuxi Jiyu Shanhua Pharmaceutical's Huangshi Xiangsheng Children's Spray (Class 2.1 modified traditional Chinese medicine), Yangtze River Pharmaceutical's Qin Qiao Yan Shu Granules (Class 1.1 new traditional Chinese medicine), and Guangzhou Wanglaoji's Kegan Liyan Oral Liquid (Class 2.3 modified traditional Chinese medicine, with a new indication: acute pharyngitis).

16 Exclusive Varieties Dominate the In-Hospital Market, Waston and Guizhou Sanli Make the List

In the ranking of sales revenue for the top group of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products for throat conditions in Chinese public medical institutions (including urban public hospitals, county-level public hospitals, urban community health centers, and township health clinics) in the first half of 2024, Grand Health Group, Hunan Times Sunshine Pharmaceutical, Waston, Guizhou Sanli Pharmaceutical, and Jin Yao Daren Hall Group ranked among the top five. Notably, several companies showed significant sales growth, with the combined market share of these five enterprises approaching 70%.

Top 5 Tier-1 Groups in Terms of Sales Revenue for Chinese Patent Medicine for Throat in Chinese Public Medical Institutions, H1 2024

Source: Terminal Competition Pattern of Pharmaceutical Products in China's Public Medical Institutions (MiNei Network)

Among the TOP20 Chinese patent medicine brands for throat, Waston Pharmaceutical's Ganjie Bingmei Tablets have consistently ranked first since 2021. Hunan Times Sunshine Pharmaceutical's Houyan Qing Oral Liquid ranks second, Guizhou Sanli's Kaihou Jian Spray ranks third, Jin Yao Daren Hall Group's Qingyan Dropping Pills rank fourth, and Xi'an Beilin Pharmaceutical's Jinsang Sanjie Capsules rank fifth. The sales revenue of the TOP5 brands in the first half of the year all exceeded 100 million yuan.

Top 20 Chinese Patent Medicine Brands for Throat in Chinese Public Medical Institutions, H1 2024

Source: Terminal Competition Pattern of Pharmaceutical Products in Chinese Public Medical Institutions (MiNe Network)

Sixteen Chinese patent medicines are exclusive varieties, including Ganjie Bingmei Tablets by Chongqing Waston Pharmaceutical, Kaihoujian Spray by Guizhou Sanli, Qingyan Drop Pills by JinYao DaRenTang Group, Huangshi Xiangsheng Pills by Wuxi Jiyu Shanhe Pharmaceutical, Liu Shen Capsules by LeiYunShang Pharmaceutical, Guilin Watermelon Frost Lozenges by Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical, and Yanlishuang Mouth Dissolving Drop Pills by Huangguoli Lishuang Pharmaceutical, etc.

At the enterprise level, Xi'an Beilin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has five exclusive products on the list: Jinsang Sanjie Capsules, Jinsang Liyan Capsules, Jinsang Sanjie Granules, Jinsang Kaiyin Capsules, and Jinsang Qingyin Capsules. Hunan Times Sunshine Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has two exclusive products on the list: Houyan Qing Oral Liquid and Houyan Qing Granules. Shanghai Leiyunshang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has two products on the list: Liu Shen Pills and Liu Shen Capsules.

Sales of 14 brands increased by over 10%. Among them, Guizhou Sanli's Kaihoujian Spray surged by 59.07%, Lei Yun Shang Pharmaceutical's Liu Shen Pills surged by 46.79%, Xi'an Beilin Pharmaceutical's Jin Sang Qing Yin Capsules surged by 42.82%, and Hunan Times Sunshine Pharmaceutical's Houyan Qing Granules, as well as Guangxi Jinxiu Shengtang Pharmaceutical's Shuangshan Granules, both increased by more than 32%.

Exclusive Products in Physical Pharmacies Soar 627%, Guilin Sanjin and Darrentang on the List

In the first half of 2024, among the leading groups in the Chinese urban physical pharmacy market for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) throat remedies, the top five leading groups are Guangxi Jin Sangzi, Guilin Sanjin Group, CR Pharmaceutical, Guilong Pharmaceutical, and Linuo Group. Among them, Guangxi Jin Sangzi holds a market share of 17.77%, while Guilin Sanjin Group accounts for 15.48%.

Top 5 Primary Groups in Terms of Sales Revenue for Chinese Patent Medicine for Throat in China's Urban Physical Pharmacies in 2023

Source: Terminal Competition Pattern of Pharmaceutical Retail in China's Urban Physical Pharmacies by MNI Network

In the TOP20 Chinese patent medicine brands for throat in China's urban physical pharmacies in H1 2024, Jin Sangzi Throat Tablets from Guangxi Jin Sangzi has consistently ranked first since 2015, far outpacing other brands with sales exceeding 400 million yuan; Guilin Watermelon Frost and Watermelon Frost Throat Lozenges from Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical ranked second and third respectively, Jinming Tablets from Hongjitang ranked fourth, and Compound Caoshanhu Lozenges from Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical ranked fifth, all with sales exceeding 100 million yuan.

Top 20 Chinese Patent Medicine Brands for Throat in China's Urban Physical Pharmacies (H1 2024)

Source: MiNeiNet China City Physical Pharmacy Drug Terminal Competition Pattern

At the enterprise level, Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical has three exclusive products on the list: Guilin Watermelon Frost, Watermelon Frost Throat Lozenges, and Watermelon Frost Clear Throat Lozenges. China Resources Pharmaceutical has two brands on the list, specifically Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical's Compound Herba Swertiæ Lozenges and China Resources Sanjiu's Pharyngitis Tablets. Guilong Pharmaceutical also has two brands on the list, including Clear Throat and Pharynx Granules and Compound Olive Throat Lozenges.

Sales of 14 brands achieved positive growth, with 7 varieties increasing by over 30%. Among them, Jin Yao Da Ren Tang Group's Qingyan Drop Pills surged by 627.17%, Taiji Group Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory No. 2's Xuanmai Ganjie Granules increased significantly by 77.83%, Shijie Ouyi Pharmaceutical's Compound Bear Bile Mint Lozenges rose by 71.33%, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Qingdao Guofeng Pharmaceutical's Kujin Tablets jumped by 68.37%, and Pien Tze Huang's Compound Pien Tze Huang Lozenges surged by 51.82%.

Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical's Watermelon Frost Throat Lozenges is an OTC Class B (dual-category) product, with the efficacy of clearing the voice, soothing the throat, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is used for preventing and treating sore throat, hoarseness, throat obstruction, mouth ulcers; acute and chronic pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, oral ulcers, stomatitis, and gum swelling and pain. Since 2020, the product's sales revenue has continuously shown double-digit growth rates, with year-on-year increases of over 11% in both 2023 and the first half of 2024.

The exclusive product of Jin Yao Da Ren Tang Group, Qing Yan Di Wan, is a Class A variety in the National Medical Insurance, National Essential Drug List, and OTC Class A category. It has the efficacy of dispersing wind-heat, detoxifying, and relieving sore throat, used for wind-heat throat obstruction, sore throat, dry throat, thirst; or mild aversion to wind, fever, redness and swelling of the throat, acute pharyngitis with the above symptoms. The sales of this product increased by 61.22% in 2023 and 627.17% in the first half of 2024, ranking further up to 12th place among the top 20 brands of traditional Chinese medicine for throat conditions.

Source: MiNeiNet Database

Note: The drug competition pattern in the three major terminals and six markets in China by Menet, the statistical scope includes: urban public hospitals and county public hospitals, urban community centers and township health centers, urban physical pharmacies and online pharmacies. Private hospitals, private clinics, and village clinics are excluded, as well as pharmacies in counties, villages, and towns. The sales mentioned above are calculated based on the average retail price of products at the terminal.