The consumption of drugs for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been rising since 2000 in China and such products once accounted for over 70% of the total consumption of urinary system drugs, according to China National Association of Pharmaceutical Commerce.

It is estimated the current size of the BPH drug market in China is between CNY 2.0 to 2.5 billion, among which hospital sales accounts for 70% while that of retail pharmacy represents the rest 30%. It is also forecasted by local experts that the market size will reach CNY 5 billion by 2010 due to expected sharp growth of senior citizen population in the country. Currently senior citizens over the age of 60 account for 15% of the population in Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou and 20% of that in Shanghai. 

There are tens of BPH drugs, including more than 20 formulated traditional Chinese medicines, in clinical use now in the country and among the ten leading BPH products in Chinese hospitals, nine are pharmaceutical chemicals and only one (ranked #10), a natural pollen extract, is a plant-based medicine.  

The top ten BPH drugs in hospitals are led by Tamsulosin, followed by Terazosin, Dibenzyline, Alfuzosin, Finasteride, Epristeride, Flutamide, Dutasteride, Doxazosin and Qianliekang (natural pollen), according to the Southern Medicine Economic Institute (SMEI). 

5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which are popular BPH drugs internationally, are mostly imported, but most Chinese patients, many of whom low income senior citizens, can not afford the high prices of such products as they are not covered by the state basic medical insurance programs. The growth of imported Western drugs has been slow in China, SMEI suggested, but low-cost products including dibenzyline and a number of plant-based medicines such as Qianliekang and Sanjin Pian has enjoyed popular sales.  

There are nine plant-based BPH medicines on the Chinese market now including Graminex’s Cernilton (imported) and Qianliekang (local). Cernilton was once the best-selling BPH drug in China with its annual sales approaching CNY 100 million, but its market share shrank in recent years following the launch of locally-made pollen extract products such as Qianliekang at much lower prices. Other imported pollen extract products also failed to gain a foodhold in China due to their high prices. 

More than 20 traditional Chinese medicines, including pollen extracts, have an estimated total annual sales of between CNY 700 million to CNY 800 million currently, according to SMEI.  

Local experts believe the market of plant-based medicines and traditional Chinese medicines for BPH has great potential due to their low prices, better safety profiles, and rising international popularity. They have been calling for government support to develop such products and encourage their clinical applications.