Qingshan Bio Targets Multi-Billion-Dollar Market with Advanced Wound Dressings and Hemostatic Products
Compared with high-value consumables, whose market size easily surpasses tens or even hundreds of billions of yuan, the market for low-value consumables—primarily consisting of injection and puncture products, medical dressings, and medical polymers—is relatively smaller. According to data released by IBM Research, the market size of China’s low-value medical consumables is projected to reach approximately RMB 221.3 billion in 2025.
Meanwhile, the low entry barrier for low-value consumables has led to intense market competition. For instance, in the medical dressings industry, there are over 4,500 enterprises in China engaged in the export of medical dressing products, most of which are small-scale regional companies, resulting in a low level of industry concentration.
However, companies in developed regions such as Europe and the United States have long since developed high-end dressings, which are already widely used in clinical practice.
Several domestic companies have been tackling the high-end dressing market, and some have already obtained approval for their products. Among them, Xi’an Qingshan Biomedical Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Qingshan Bio”) has developed high-end modern dressings, namely functional modern dressing products. Meanwhile, Qingshan Bio has also developed oxidized cellulose hemostatic fiber products.
According to reports, Cao Chuanbo, General Manager of Qingshan Biotech, began specializing in biomedical materials while serving as Deputy Director of the Diversified Business Office under the Capital Construction Engineering Department of the Tongchuan Mining Bureau, a pursuit he has maintained for over thirty years. During this period, Mr. Cao obtained utility model and invention patents, including “Manufacturing Method for a Novel Medical Hemostatic Bandage” and “Manufacturing Method for a Novel Medical Dressing.”
In addition to Cao Chuanbo, other R&D personnel have been involved in the development of dressing products and oxidized cellulose hemostatic fibers. For instance, Dr. Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Stomatology from the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an. He has undertaken more than ten scientific and technological projects under the National 863 Program, the National 973 Program, and provincial/ministerial-level initiatives, and has received one First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award as well as four First Prizes at the provincial and ministerial levels.
Professor Chen graduated with a major in Medicinal Chemistry from China Pharmaceutical University. He previously served as Director of the Scientific Research Department, Professor, and Senior Researcher at Xi’an Medical University, and was primarily involved in the preliminary research and market analysis of oxidized cellulose hemostatic fibers. Cao Wenzong graduated with a major in Modern Textile Engineering from Xi’an Polytechnic University and has long been engaged in the technical research and development of dressings and hemostatic products.
With the support of the aforementioned members, functional modern dressing products and oxidized cellulose hemostatic fiber products are currently at the laboratory sample stage.
Currently, China's high-end wound dressing market is still in its nascent stage. However, with the continuous improvement of medical infrastructure, deepening population aging, increased patient awareness of high-end wound dressings, rising numbers of road traffic accidents and burn cases, and the high prevalence of diabetic wounds, China's high-end medical dressing market is poised for rapid growth.
Data indicates that advanced wound dressing products include silicone foam dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, superabsorbent pads, and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices. These are primarily applied in the management of chronic wounds associated with diabetes, extensive burns, and trauma.
Compared to traditional wound dressings, advanced wound dressings offer features such as exudate control, superior breathability, non-adherence to the wound bed, preservation of newly formed tissue, prevention of bacterial infection, and promotion of wound healing.
Globally, the demand for advanced medical dressings is becoming increasingly urgent. On one hand, with population growth, more patients will require advanced medical dressings. For instance, the "2021 IDF Diabetes Atlas" published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) shows that the number of adults with diabetes worldwide reached 537 million (10.5%) in 2021. According to IDF projections, the global adult diabetic population is expected to reach 783 million by 2045.
"Clinical experts state: 'Wounds in patients with diabetes are difficult to heal, and due to their elevated blood glucose levels, they are highly susceptible to infection.' Therefore, patients with diabetes and similar conditions urgently require advanced medical dressings for wound care to prevent bacterial infection and promote wound healing."
On the other hand, with economic development and rising living standards, public health awareness will continue to strengthen, leading to a growing preference for new products such as high-end medical dressings.
According to QYResearch, the global market size for advanced wound dressings reached $5.846 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $7.230 billion by 2027.
According to Cao Chuanbo, the functional modern dressing products developed by Qingshan Biology belong to the category of high-end wound dressings. They can accelerate wound healing, improve the quality of healing, reduce patient suffering, and enhance the therapeutic and nursing efficacy of medical dressings.
The aforementioned functions are achieved because this medical dressing incorporates STZD active biological factors and NS biological factors. Among them, STZD active biological factors are a type of plant cytokine that promotes the formation of normal granulation tissue, activates epithelial tissue, enhances the function of the reticuloendothelial system, inhibits fibroblast proliferation, and reduces scar formation. NS biological factors possess physiological functions such as promoting cell growth, accelerating wound healing, and softening keratin.
Cao Chuanbo stated, “For the functional modern dressing project, we aim to complete pilot production and clinical trials within six months, finish cleanroom renovation, equipment procurement, and installation within one year, and initiate the product registration process within one year.”
Qingshan Biotech’s second product, oxidized cellulose hemostatic fibers, is a medical hemostatic material.
Data released by the Forward Industry Research Institute shows that the global market for absorbable hemostatic materials exhibited a year-on-year upward trend from 2016 to 2019, with its size increasing from RMB 18.4 billion in 2016 to RMB 22.4 billion in 2019.
In terms of market landscape, the global absorbable hemostatic materials market is relatively fragmented. However, Johnson & Johnson accounts for approximately 31.11% of the global absorbable hemostatic materials market, making it the absolute leader in the hemostatic materials sector.
On the other hand, as the number of patients undergoing surgical procedures increases year by year, the hemostatic materials market will continue to expand. According to forecasts by Qianzhan Industry Research Institute, global sales of absorbable hemostatic materials are expected to rise steadily over the next five years, increasing from RMB 24.3 billion in 2022 to RMB 34.1 billion in 2027.
Data indicates that cellulose is a macromolecular polysaccharide composed of glucose, insoluble in water and common organic solvents, and serves as a major component of plant cell walls. When cellulose undergoes a chemical reaction with oxidizing agents, it yields oxidized cellulose with a distinct structure, which exhibits effective hemostatic properties. The oxidized cellulose hemostatic fiber developed by Qingshan Biology is a product of this type.
Cao Chuanbo stated, “Oxidized cellulose hemostatic fiber is a medical bioactive product with excellent hemostatic efficacy and dual characteristics as both a pharmaceutical and a medical device. Centered on cellulose derivative modification technology, it employs modern biomedical engineering techniques to transform natural fibers into medical-grade active polysaccharide fibers, thereby enabling rapid hemostasis and other functions.”
Compared with other products on the market, QingShan Biotech’s oxidized cellulose hemostatic fibers will be priced reasonably to offer greater cost-effectiveness.
Meanwhile, in terms of application scenarios, the oxidized cellulose hemostatic fibers developed by Qingshan Biology will be applied to the treatment of moderate bleeding, trauma emergency care, medical aesthetics, and plastic surgery.
Finally, Cao Chuanbo stated, “The company is undertaking a new round of financing, and the funds raised will be used for clinical trials, product registration, and other purposes.”
The 2022 “Maker Guangdong” Biopharmaceutical SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was guided by the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province and the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province, and hosted by Guangdong Medical Valley. Since undertaking the competition, it has focused on the biopharmaceutical sector, identifying high-quality projects related to COVID-19 prevention and control as well as health protection. To date, nearly 400 projects have been identified, with many of the recommended projects winning major awards in the provincial finals. Guangdong Medical Valley was honored as the “2021 Outstanding Organization Unit.”
Guangdong Medical Valley, founded in 2014, is committed to becoming a world-class service provider for biomedical industry clusters. It has currently laid out more than 1 million square meters (including those under construction) in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan and other places. By creating an industrial ecosystem of "industrial cluster × industrial service × industrial investment", it promotes the agglomeration and development of innovative elements in the biomedical industry. The Max+ Industrial Service Platform provides comprehensive and diversified industrial services such as talent, technology, finance, and policy for enterprises stationed in the park.