A veterinary drug research and development team is at work at Tianjin Ringpu Bio-Technology Co in Tianjin's Binhai New Area earlier this year. CHINA DAILY

As temperatures rise in North China, April through June marks the peak season for stray animals to give birth. Last week, while admiring blooming crabapple flowers on the streets of Tianjin, Chen Xue not only enjoyed the scenery, but was also surprised to find two newborn kittens.

Chen already has several cats at home. Before bringing the new arrivals back, she opened a pet care app on her phone to find a nearby veterinary clinic for their vaccinations.

Unlike her experience with cat vaccinations several years ago, this time she chose a domestically produced feline trivalent vaccine developed by Tianjin Ringpu Bio-Technology Co, a firm based in Tianjin's Binhai New Area. The veterinarian recommended it, explaining that since 2023, multiple Chinese-made feline trivalent vaccines have received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, breaking the long-standing import monopoly.

"One of the key advantages of domestically produced feline trivalent vaccines is that they are developed using epidemic virus strains isolated locally in China, offering a better match with the virus strains commonly found in domestic cats," said Zhu Yu, a veterinarian at Ringpai Pet Hospital.

"In contrast, imported vaccines often use strains isolated abroad decades ago, which have lower homology with the strains circulating in China, leaving certain gaps in protection," Zhu said. "Domestic feline trivalent vaccines are also cost-effective. While ensuring efficacy, their price is about one-third that of imported products, so more and more pet owners are choosing them."

Chen recalled that five years ago, when she adopted another cat, she faced a severe shortage of imported vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Prices skyrocketed, and she had to book about a week in advance to secure a dose.

Produced by Zoetis, a US-based animal health company, Miaosanduo was the first and, for a long time, the only approved feline trivalent vaccine in China. Since entering the Chinese market in 2011, it held a monopoly for over a decade.

Zhu recalled that the initial price per dose was around 80 yuan ($11.6). In 2021, a supply chain disruption caused by the suspension of flights from the United States led to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of doses.

"During that period, the price per dose surged to over 200 yuan, and it was difficult to find through regular channels," he said.

At the same time, the number of pet cats in China was growing rapidly. Fu Xubin, vice-president of Ringpu Bio, said that at that time, there were about 50 million pet cats in the country, with approximately 12 million unvaccinated kittens. The risk of infectious diseases was rising, causing widespread anxiety among pet owners.

In 2023, Ringpu Bio's independently developed feline trivalent vaccine received emergency approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, becoming the first domestically produced feline trivalent vaccine to hit the market and breaking the foreign monopoly that had lasted more than two decades.

According to a research report by Zheshang Securities, the vaccine was well received after its launch, with 500,000 doses shipped in the first quarter of 2024 and distribution reaching 4,600 pet hospitals nationwide.

Ringpu Bio's ability to lead this wave of import substitution did not happen overnight.

Founded in 1998, the company has achieved several "firsts" in the veterinary drug sector. Early on, it developed China's first heat-stable vaccine and the first inactivated vaccine using ultrafiltration concentration technology. These technical advancements laid a solid foundation for the development of pet vaccines.

In recent years, Ringpu Bio has significantly increased its investment in research and development. It has established six national-level innovation platforms and accumulated 124 certificates for new veterinary drugs and 339 authorized patents.

Last year, the company also received clinical approval for an mRNA vaccine against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus — the world's first clinical approval for an mRNA vaccine for food-producing animals.

Fu said Ringpu Bio's R&D spending represents 8 to 10 percent of its sales, a high ratio within the industry. "We reinvest our profits into R&D, creating a virtuous cycle of sustained investment."

Ringpu Bio is located in a key biopharmaceutical industry cluster in North China. In March, during the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum, the governments of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province jointly announced 54 collaborative innovation consortia, five of which are in the biopharmaceutical sector. This regional collaborative ecosystem provides strong support for the company's development.

In the veterinary medicine field, Ringpu Bio has built a complete industry chain from R&D to end services. It handles product R&D and manufacturing. Ringpai Pet Hospital provides pet care services and Zhongrui Supply Chain manages distribution channels.

Fu said this closed-loop model of "products, channels and services" not only accelerates the market penetration of domestically produced pet medical products, but also supports improvements in service quality.

To address the industry-wide challenge of varying skill levels among veterinarians — most of whom only have associate degrees — Ringpai Pet Hospital has established a systematic training system through its chain operations.

A cat is vaccinated at Ringpai Pet Hospital in Tianjin on Saturday. YAN DONGJIE/CHINA DAILY

The company has about 7,000 veterinarians, with senior experts not only treating patients, but also serving as regional chief specialists and mentors, providing hands-on training to elevate overall clinical standards.

In addition, the company has partnered with institutions such as Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University to jointly build small veterinary teaching hospitals and small veterinary industry colleges.

"Through these collaborations, we hope to get involved in shaping China's small animal medical education system, helping to enhance the clinical capabilities of pet veterinarians at the source," Fu said.

The breakthrough in domestically produced feline trivalent vaccines is just one example of the broader rise of China's pet pharmaceutical industry. According to the 2026 China Pet Industry White Paper, China's urban pet market reached 312 billion yuan last year, with the pet medical market alone growing to 94 billion yuan.

Import substitution is accelerating in the pet drug sector. Of the 52 pet drugs approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2024, 31 were domestically produced, surpassing the number of imported products for the first time. Of the 60 pet drugs registered last year, 47 were domestically produced.

China's pet market still has significant growth potential, Fu said. Industry data show that less than 20 percent of Chinese households own pets, far below the more than 70 percent penetration rate in Europe and the US.

In late 2024, the Ministry of Commerce included the pet economy in its list of sectors to promote consumption growth, with pet-related tourism and leisure activities emerging as new hot spots. In Tianjin's Wuqing district, a pet carnival is being planned, and in Changli county, Hebei, a pet-themed park is also in the works.

Ringpu Bio is now advancing the development of cutting-edge products including a feline tetravalent mRNA vaccine and a canine tetravalent live vaccine, along with several antiparasitic drugs. At the same time, the company is actively expanding its international presence, establishing a team of more than 40 staff members focused on global markets and exporting products to more than 40 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The quality and technological level of the company's products is as good as those of some European generic drug manufacturers, Fu said.

"China accounts for over 70 percent of the global supply of veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredients, and our exports of pharmaceutical formulations and vaccines are also growing rapidly."

Looking ahead, Fu of Ringpu Bio acknowledged both challenges and opportunities.

"Our biggest challenge now is developing original new veterinary drugs. But we are making full efforts to achieve breakthroughs, and in certain areas, we have taken a leading position. Coupled with our advantages in manufacturing processes and cost control, we are confident that China will have a strong voice in the global industrial chain."

Wei Lan contributed to this story.

隨著中國北方氣溫回升，4至6月成為流浪動物的產(chǎn)仔高峰期。上周，陳雪在天津街頭欣賞盛放的海棠花時，不僅沉醉于美景，還意外發(fā)現(xiàn)了兩只剛出生的小貓。

陳雪家中本就養(yǎng)了數(shù)只貓咪。在把這兩只小貓帶回家前，她打開手機上的寵物護理應(yīng)用，查找附近的寵物醫(yī)院為幼貓接種疫苗。

與幾年前給貓咪打疫苗的經(jīng)歷不同，這次她選擇了天津濱海新區(qū)企業(yè) —— 天津瑞普生物技術(shù)股份有限公司研發(fā)的國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗。獸醫(yī)推薦這款疫苗時介紹，自2023年起，多款國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗獲農(nóng)業(yè)農(nóng)村部批準(zhǔn)上市，打破了長期以來的進口壟斷。

瑞派寵物醫(yī)院獸醫(yī)朱宇表示：“國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗的核心優(yōu)勢之一，是采用從中國本土分離的流行毒株研制，與國內(nèi)家貓常見毒株匹配度更高。”

“相比之下，進口疫苗多采用國外數(shù)十年前分離的毒株，與國內(nèi)流行毒株同源性較低，防護效果存在一定差距?！?朱宇說，“國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗性價比也更高，在保證防疫效果的前提下，價格僅為進口產(chǎn)品的三分之一左右，因此越來越多寵物主人選擇國產(chǎn)疫苗?！?/p>

陳雪回憶，五年前她收養(yǎng)另一只貓咪時，正值新冠疫情期間，進口疫苗一度嚴(yán)重緊缺，價格飛漲，還需要提前約一周預(yù)約才能搶到一針。

美國動物保健企業(yè)碩騰生產(chǎn)的 “妙三多”，曾是國內(nèi)首個、也是長期以來唯一獲批的貓三聯(lián)疫苗。該產(chǎn)品2011年進入中國市場后，壟斷市場長達十余年。

朱宇回憶，該疫苗最初每針價格約80元。2021年，受美國航班停飛導(dǎo)致的供應(yīng)鏈中斷影響，數(shù)十萬劑疫苗報廢。

“那段時間，單針價格飆升至200多元，通過正規(guī)渠道也很難買到。” 他說。

與此同時，中國寵物貓數(shù)量快速增長。瑞普生物副總裁付旭彬介紹，當(dāng)時國內(nèi)寵物貓數(shù)量約5000萬只，其中約1200萬只幼貓未接種疫苗，傳染病風(fēng)險持續(xù)上升，引發(fā)寵物主人普遍擔(dān)憂。

2023年，瑞普生物自主研發(fā)的貓三聯(lián)疫苗獲農(nóng)業(yè)農(nóng)村部應(yīng)急審批，成為國內(nèi)首款上市的國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗，打破了長達二十余年的外資壟斷。

浙商證券研報顯示，該疫苗上市后市場反響熱烈，2024年第一季度出貨量達50萬劑，銷售網(wǎng)絡(luò)覆蓋全國4600家寵物醫(yī)院。

瑞普生物能引領(lǐng)這波進口替代浪潮，并非一蹴而就。

公司成立于1998年，在獸藥領(lǐng)域創(chuàng)下多項 “國內(nèi)第一”：早年研發(fā)出中國首個耐熱保護劑疫苗、首個采用超濾濃縮技術(shù)的滅活疫苗。這些技術(shù)突破，為寵物疫苗研發(fā)奠定了堅實基礎(chǔ)。

近年來，瑞普生物大幅加大研發(fā)投入，搭建了6個國家級創(chuàng)新平臺，累計獲得124項新獸藥證書、339項授權(quán)專利。

去年，公司研發(fā)的豬流行性腹瀉 mRNA 疫苗獲批臨床試驗，這是全球首個針對食用動物的 mRNA 疫苗臨床批件。

付旭彬表示，瑞普生物研發(fā)投入占銷售額的8%至10%，在行業(yè)內(nèi)處于較高水平?！拔覀儗⒗麧櫝掷m(xù)投入研發(fā)，形成了不斷加碼的良性循環(huán)。”

瑞普生物坐落于華北重要的生物醫(yī)藥產(chǎn)業(yè)集群內(nèi)。今年3月，2026 中關(guān)村論壇期間，京津冀三地政府聯(lián)合發(fā)布54個協(xié)同創(chuàng)新聯(lián)合體，其中 5個聚焦生物醫(yī)藥領(lǐng)域。這一區(qū)域協(xié)同創(chuàng)新生態(tài)，為公司發(fā)展提供了有力支撐。

在獸藥領(lǐng)域，瑞普生物構(gòu)建了從研發(fā)到終端服務(wù)的完整產(chǎn)業(yè)鏈：自主負責(zé)產(chǎn)品研發(fā)與生產(chǎn)，瑞派寵物醫(yī)院提供寵物診療服務(wù)，中瑞供應(yīng)鏈負責(zé)渠道分銷。

付旭彬稱，這種 “產(chǎn)品 + 渠道 + 服務(wù)” 的閉環(huán)模式，既加快了國產(chǎn)寵物醫(yī)療產(chǎn)品的市場滲透，也助力服務(wù)品質(zhì)提升。

針對行業(yè)內(nèi)獸醫(yī)專業(yè)水平參差不齊、從業(yè)者多為專科學(xué)歷的普遍難題，瑞派寵物醫(yī)院通過連鎖化運營搭建了系統(tǒng)化培訓(xùn)體系。

公司擁有約7000名獸醫(yī)，資深專家不僅坐診診療，還擔(dān)任區(qū)域首席專家與導(dǎo)師，通過實操帶教提升整體臨床診療水平。

此外，公司還與福建農(nóng)林大學(xué)、內(nèi)蒙古農(nóng)業(yè)大學(xué)等院校合作，共建小動物教學(xué)醫(yī)院與獸醫(yī)產(chǎn)業(yè)學(xué)院。

“通過這些合作，我們希望參與構(gòu)建中國小動物醫(yī)學(xué)教育體系，從源頭提升寵物獸醫(yī)的臨床診療能力。”付旭彬說。

國產(chǎn)貓三聯(lián)疫苗的突破，只是中國寵物醫(yī)藥產(chǎn)業(yè)崛起的縮影。《2026 中國寵物行業(yè)白皮書》顯示，去年中國城鎮(zhèn)寵物市場規(guī)模達3120億元，僅寵物醫(yī)療市場就增至940億元。

寵物藥品領(lǐng)域的進口替代進程持續(xù)提速。2024年農(nóng)業(yè)農(nóng)村部批準(zhǔn)的 52款寵物藥品中，國產(chǎn)藥品達31款，數(shù)量首次超過進口產(chǎn)品；去年注冊的60款寵物藥品中，47款為國產(chǎn)。

付旭彬認為，中國寵物市場仍有巨大增長潛力。行業(yè)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，中國家庭寵物飼養(yǎng)率不足20%，遠低于歐美超70%的滲透率。

2024年末，商務(wù)部將寵物經(jīng)濟納入促消費重點領(lǐng)域，寵物文旅休閑等新業(yè)態(tài)成為新熱點。天津武清區(qū)正籌備寵物嘉年華，河北昌黎縣也在規(guī)劃寵物主題公園。

目前，瑞普生物正推進貓四聯(lián)mRNA疫苗、犬四聯(lián)活疫苗及多款驅(qū)蟲藥等前沿產(chǎn)品研發(fā)。同時，公司積極拓展海外市場，組建了40余人的國際業(yè)務(wù)團隊，產(chǎn)品出口至40多個 “一帶一路” 共建國家。

付旭彬表示，公司產(chǎn)品的品質(zhì)與技術(shù)水平，已比肩歐洲部分仿制藥企業(yè)。

“中國獸用原料藥全球供應(yīng)量占比超70%，制劑與疫苗出口也在快速增長。”

展望未來，付旭彬坦言，瑞普生物既面臨挑戰(zhàn)也迎來機遇。

“當(dāng)前我們最大的挑戰(zhàn)是原創(chuàng)一類新獸藥的研發(fā)，但我們正全力攻堅實現(xiàn)突破，部分領(lǐng)域已處于領(lǐng)先地位。再加上我們在生產(chǎn)工藝與成本控制上的優(yōu)勢，有信心讓中國在全球產(chǎn)業(yè)鏈中擁有更強話語權(quán)。”

魏嵐對本文亦有貢獻。

（注：文中姓名為音譯）