Pharma Giants Rush into Orthopedics: New Growth Opportunities Emerge in 2026

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry DynamicsRecently, Eyebright Medical announced the acquisition of Delta Medical, a leading enterprise in sports medicine, at a high premium of 6.83 billion yuan. It is reported that Delta Medical is a technology-oriented company focusing on the sports health industry. Its core competitiveness lies in its full-chain product line covering preoperative prevention, surgical treatment, and postoperative rehabilitation, as well as its leading position in the field of sports medicine consumables.
 

Eyebright Medical's business covers three major fields: ophthalmic surgical treatment, myopia prevention and control, and vision care. It mainly provides one-stop solutions for ophthalmic surgery, refractive error correction, and optical consumer products, including three core products: intraocular lenses, orthokeratology lenses, and contact lenses. Currently, it has expanded its coverage of the full life cycle product pipeline for eye health. The acquisition of Delta Medical is an important measure for Eyebright Medical to expand externally and cultivate new profit growth points. At the same time, it is also expected to help Delta Medical enhance its core competitiveness.
 

Notably, in this equity acquisition, both parties have set performance commitments. From 2026 to 2028, Delta Medical's annual net profit should be no less than 45 million yuan, 55 million yuan, and 65 million yuan respectively, with a three-year cumulative total of no less than 165 million yuan. If these targets are not met, the founding shareholders of Delta Medical will compensate with equity.
 

In addition to Eyebright Medical, since 2026, many leading pharmaceutical companies have actually been entering the orthopedics sector, intensifying their presence. For instance, on January 14, Sibiman Biotech announced a collaboration with Fosun Kite regarding the commercialization of its investigational allogeneic human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell injection, lotazadromcel (brand name AlloJoin®), for knee osteoarthritis indications within mainland China and the Hong Kong and Macao regions.
 

AlloJoin® is a core stem cell product under development by CBM Bio based on its allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell technology platform, and it possesses independent intellectual property rights. The product aims to explore the possibility of providing safe and long-lasting symptom relief for osteoarthritis patients by suppressing inflammation and repairing damaged cartilage. Currently, the drug is undergoing Phase III registration clinical trials in China for knee osteoarthritis, with Phase I and II clinical trials already demonstrating favorable safety data and positive clinical benefits.
 

On February 26, Dongxing Medical announced that the company plans to purchase 90% of the equity of Wuhan Yijiabao Biomaterial Co., Ltd. in cash. This transaction, proposed by Dongxing Medical in September 2025, marks a critical step for the company in extending its surgical medical device industry chain and expanding into the synthetic biology field.
 

On March 3, Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Limited By Share LTD announced that it had received the "Drug Registration Certificate" for Glucosamine Sulfate Capsules from the National Medical Products Administration. The drug is suitable for primary and secondary osteoarthritis. This approval will further enrich the company’s product line for chronic orthopedic conditions.
 

On March 3, Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd. submitted its listing application to the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking the company's second attempt at filing. Data shows that Star Sports Medicine is an innovative medical device enterprise specializing in sports medicine, primarily engaged in the research, development, production, and sales of sports medicine implants, active devices and consumables, as well as surgical tools. In this Hong Kong IPO, Star Sports Medicine plans to use the proceeds for capacity expansion and commercial promotion, among other initiatives.
 

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Overall, the current orthopedic track has shown a pattern of domestic leading enterprises expanding, cross-border companies entering, and innovative technologies accelerating implementation. Against this backdrop, China's orthopedic industry is expected to shift from "price wars" to high-quality competition centered on "technology + ecosystem + globalization" in the future, particularly in sports medicine and orthopedics.RobotRegenerative medicine and 3D printing will become the four major growth engines, and Chinese companies are expected to achieve leapfrog development in the global orthopedics value chain.
 

　　Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall the information or opinions expressed in this article constitute investment advice to any person.