R&D personnel are conducting pre-market quality inspections on the recombinant feline omega-interferon. Photo courtesy of the source.

Veterinarians use the “MiaobeiHu” feline triple vaccine to immunize cats. Photo courtesy of the source.

Recently, in a laboratory at China Pharmaceutical City in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, recombinant feline omega-interferon is undergoing pre-approval stability studies, with the compilation and analysis of key data now in the final stages. Researchers are holding their breath, as this small formulation—alongside the “Miaobeihu” feline trivalent inactivated vaccine, which was just approved here two months ago—represents not only a breakthrough from zero to one in China’s pet biopharmaceutical sector, but also signals the emergence of a formidable “Chinese force” in an industry long dominated by international giants.

What exactly are these two “Class II New Veterinary Drugs,” and why are they so important?

A Class II New Veterinary Drug at the national level signifies “the first veterinary medicinal product in China to be approved for registration and never before officially marketed domestically,” with an exceptionally rigorous review process and stringent regulatory standards, making it a true “benchmark for innovation” in the veterinary pharmaceutical field. The “Miaobeihu” feline trivalent vaccine is indicated for the prevention of three highly virulent infectious diseases in cats: feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus disease. Meanwhile, recombinant feline omega-interferon is a broad-spectrum antiviral protein drug that effectively inhibits viral replication, providing a more effective therapeutic option for feline viral respiratory diseases, keratitis, and other conditions.

These two products—one fills the gap in the supply of high-quality vaccines, and the other breaks the bottleneck of a shortage of therapeutic biologics. Both are developed by BioAlly Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “BioAlly”), a company dedicated to independent innovation in China’s pet pharmaceutical sector. In an interview, BioAlly Chairman Wang Hongwei could hardly conceal his excitement: “Miaobeihu” has successfully opened up the cat-vaccine market, which had long been tightly controlled by foreign firms, while the approval of recombinant feline omega-interferon marks a critical breakthrough for China in the field of recombinant protein-based antiviral drugs, providing a new domestically developed, independently produced protein-based therapeutic option for viral diseases in pets.

Where can we find the life-saving medicine for “fur babies”?

Looking back at China’s pet healthcare market a decade ago, particularly in the field of therapeutic biologics, it is no exaggeration to describe it as “a barren wasteland.”

At the time, pets suffering from internal medical emergencies such as hemorrhagic anemia and hypoproteinemia often faced the daunting predicament of having “no effective treatment available.” Wang Hongwei recalls that, watching these dying “fur babies,” both veterinarians and their owners were overwhelmed by a profound sense of helplessness, as the field of therapeutic biologics for pets was virtually uncharted territory.

“The whole world has long been suffering under the tyranny of cat vaccines!” This tongue-in-cheek remark, circulating in the industry for years, perfectly captures the helplessness felt by professionals. In particular, the prolonged monopoly on the feline trivalent vaccine has resulted not only in exorbitant prices but also in unstable supply and concerns about inadequate protection due to mismatches between the vaccine strains and the prevalent circulating strains in China. Numerous studies have shown that vaccines produced using foreign strains provide poor immune protection for Chinese cats: for example, after three doses of the feline panleukopenia vaccine, 11.6% of cats still fail to achieve protective immunity within one year; the infection rate following vaccination against feline calicivirus rises to 28.7%; and the infection rate after vaccination against feline herpesvirus soars to as high as 46.7%.

A more profound challenge lies in our reliance on others for critical technologies. The development of veterinary pharmaceuticals, particularly biologics, is characterized by extremely high R&D barriers, requiring substantial capital investment, lengthy development timelines, and stringent regulatory review standards. In contrast to the vast market for food-producing animals, the pet pharmaceutical market is relatively small, which in turn dampens companies’ incentives to invest in R&D and innovation.

A lack of independent innovation means losing the initiative in industry development, leaving China’s pet healthcare sector in a long-standing and awkward position of “catching up” or even “stalling” when it comes to critical pharmaceuticals.

Faced with the industry’s predicament, Boraidi resolutely chose the most challenging yet most fundamental path—groundbreaking, independent innovation—soon after its founding in 2013. “The healthy development of the industry cannot forever depend on others. We must invest in our own R&D and ensure that Chinese pet owners have access to high-quality, domestically produced veterinary medicines!” From the very first day of Boraidi’s establishment, this commitment to independent innovation has been deeply embedded in the company’s DNA.

The path of research and development is never smooth. From project initiation to market approval, a new drug typically undergoes a lengthy development cycle marked by countless trials and errors. The R&D of the “Miaobeihu” feline trivalent vaccine spanned eight years: first, more than 20,000 clinical samples from across the country were screened to identify dominant viral strains that best match the prevalent pathogens in China; then, serum-free viral culture processes were optimized, the efficacy of viral inactivation was validated, adjuvant compatibility was screened, and two-year clinical trials on immunogenicity and safety were conducted—culminating in a major breakthrough in the development of a domestically produced feline trivalent vaccine.

“What we aim to develop is a vaccine that truly protects Chinese cats, rather than merely being a vaccine,” Wang Hongwei explained.

To address the shortcomings of imported vaccines—namely, insufficient protective efficacy and a higher incidence of adverse reactions—the team devoted itself to research and development, innovatively establishing “serum-free culture and purification technology for viral antigens” and “quantitative antigen detection technology.” The former eliminates contaminating proteins at the source, thereby significantly reducing immune-related adverse reactions; the latter enables precise control over the levels of three viral antigens, achieving an optimal formulation that ensures each antigen delivers its maximum protective effect.

Has the golden age of China’s pet pharmaceutical industry arrived?

Upon entering Bole Deli’s R&D and manufacturing base, one is struck by the site’s well-planned layout and state-of-the-art facilities, which include GMP-compliant biologics production buildings and GMP-certified facilities for novel drug formulations, among others. Along the observation corridor of the inactivated-product workshop, large glass windows offer a clear view of the intelligently automated production lines operating in perfect order, while staff clad in cleanroom suits work with unwavering concentration. From the ultrafiltration and inactivation area to the gas-cylinder room and the temporary waste-storage area, every step of the process is governed by stringent standard operating procedures.

Adjacent to the R&D and manufacturing base, BioAlly’s “Taichongdong Pet Culture Center” has just concluded successfully. The WCF (World Cat Federation) International Purebred Cat Show—the first international pet event ever held in Taizhou—brought together nearly a hundred rare cat breeds from around the world, offering local pet lovers a high-caliber visual feast while also powerfully advancing the deep integration of the pet economy with cultural and tourism consumption. “We built the culture center not to sell cats, but to help more people understand pet culture and create a warm, inclusive home where humans and pets can enjoy each other’s company,” said Wang Hongwei. He added that the center complements the company’s R&D and production operations: leveraging BioAlly’s technological strengths in the pet pharmaceutical sector to promote public education, while also injecting vitality into the pet industry ecosystem through a variety of high-quality events, thereby helping to build a comprehensive pet-economy ecosystem.

At the same time, BioAlly continues to “infuse vitality” into the industry. Since 2013, the company has partnered with organizations such as the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association to establish a series of public-service awards, including the BioAlly Outstanding Veterinarian Award and the BioAlly Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Veterinary Industry. Over the past decade and more, more than 1,400 outstanding veterinarians have been recognized, many of whom have since grown into the backbone of the profession. As Wang Hongwei puts it, “By developing pet pharmaceuticals, we aim to empower veterinarians and make the industry more compassionate and human-centered.”

Through sustained dedication and investment, the company has finally entered a period of rapid breakthroughs. To date, BioAlly has cumulatively obtained eight national registration certificates for new veterinary drugs, including one Class I novel veterinary drug that is a global first and three Class II novel veterinary drugs that are national firsts. In 2025 alone, the company secured four additional new veterinary drug registration certificates. In addition, the company holds 17 national invention patents and one U.S. invention patent.

Behind these figures lies a qualitative leap in China’s innovative capacity in pet pharmaceuticals. However, from a broader industry perspective, we must remain vigilant.

According to available information, China’s pet pharmaceutical industry started relatively late, with most companies being small in scale. A severe problem plaguing the country’s veterinary pharmaceutical sector remains the intense, homogenized competition driven by insufficient innovation capacity. For instance, there are over 2,500 approved product registration numbers for flufenicol powder alone; aside from differences in packaging, the active ingredients and therapeutic effects are virtually identical. This level of homogenization forces firms to engage in cutthroat price-cutting, leading to a decline in overall profitability across the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.

On the one hand, innovative companies are continuously achieving breakthroughs in core technologies; on the other hand, many firms are still struggling in low-level, homogeneous competition. This means that the full and bright future of China’s pet pharmaceutical industry still requires the entire sector to forge ahead with perseverance.

What path should China’s pet pharmaceutical industry take in the future?

According to the latest data, China’s veterinary pharmaceutical sales have grown from over RMB 50 billion in 2019 to nearly RMB 70 billion in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of more than 8%. Notably, the pet pharmaceutical market has delivered particularly strong performance: between 2020 and 2024, its size surged from RMB 9.4 billion to RMB 21 billion, and it is projected to exceed RMB 35 billion by 2029.

Given such a vast market potential, what path should China’s pet pharmaceutical industry take going forward?

“Our original aspiration has never changed—to ensure that Chinese pets have access to high-quality, domestically produced medicines,” Wang Hongwei stated with unwavering resolve. Looking ahead, BioAlly will continue to invest deeply in both research and development and service excellence. On the R&D front, the company will accelerate the development and regulatory registration of several globally pioneering innovative biologics, including a monoclonal antibody against feline parvovirus, recombinant feline serum albumin, and recombinant feline erythropoietin (EPO). On the service front, BioAlly will further upgrade its “Empowerment Program” to build a healthy industry ecosystem.

From an industry trends perspective, a transformation is underway. In recent years, driven by increasingly stringent environmental protection policies and mounting pressure to upgrade the industry, the veterinary pharmaceutical sector has gradually shifted toward park-based and cluster-oriented development. Local governments have actively established specialized biopharmaceutical industrial parks to encourage enterprises to locate within these parks, fostering agglomeration and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the industry. Currently, China’s veterinary pharmaceutical industry is transitioning from a model dominated by generic production to one driven by innovation. As of July 2025, three Class I new veterinary drugs have been approved domestically over the past three years, and several mRNA vaccines have entered the clinical trial stage.

Against this backdrop, the successful development and launch of “MiaobeiHu,” a domestically produced feline trivalent vaccine, has undoubtedly served as a powerful boost to the pet industry. Following its initial approval in January 2024—when it was granted a temporary production license through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ emergency evaluation—the vaccine went on to become the first domestically developed Class II new veterinary drug to receive formal national registration in July 2025. This milestone has not only effectively stimulated domestic demand for pet vaccines but has also spurred accelerated innovation and breakthroughs across the industry.

Industry insiders note that the pet pharmaceutical market is exhibiting a rigid upward trend, while pet healthcare is moving toward precision diagnostics and digital–intelligent healthcare, further intensifying the demand for precise drug efficacy.

From filling a critical gap to taking global leadership, Boraideli’s 12-year journey epitomizes the Chinese pet pharmaceutical industry’s relentless pursuit of excellence through hard work and innovative self-reliance. It demonstrates that even in seemingly “niche” markets, unwavering commitment to independent innovation and the courage to tackle the toughest challenges can enable companies to break through barriers and earn widespread respect.

Looking ahead, driven by policy support, market demand, and corporate innovation, we are confident that more Chinese companies will rise to prominence, amplifying the “Chinese voice” in the global pet health sector and ensuring that the brilliance of Chinese innovation illuminates the future of pet health worldwide.