What KPC does

KPC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KPC, Shanghai Stock Exchange code 600422) is a Kunming-based, public Chinese pharmaceutical company founded in 1951 that develops, manufactures, and commercializes innovative natural botanical drugs. The company operates four product pillars — Panax Notoginseng (cardiovascular and cerebrovascular indications, anchored by the Luotai/Xuesaitong range), Gastrodine (nervous system indications including vertigo, headaches, and neurasthenia), Artemisinins (antimalarials including Artemether Injection, Comether, and the world's first single-dose antimalarial ARCO), and Special Botanical Drugs (covering Dai ethnic medicine, arthritis, diabetes adjuncts, and gynecological indications). R&D is anchored by the Xuesaitong Pharmaceutical Research Institute (over 60 years of history, 68 effective patents) and a postdoctoral research workstation jointly with Yunnan University and the Kunming Institute of Botany. Manufacturing integrates raw-material sourcing — including a GAP planting base in Wenshan, the panax notoginseng heartland — with phytochemistry, semi-synthesis, and freeze-drying, the last of which KPC first applied to botanical injection production in China in 1996.

The company makes money through domestic and international sales of pharmaceutical products across three business lines: innovative natural botanical drugs (covering TCM and specialty botanical formulations), chemical medicine (operated partly through the Kunming Baker Norton JV with IVAX/Teva for antibiotics and arthrosis products), and medicinal circulation (wholesale and retail distribution in Yunnan via Kunming Pharmaceutical Commercial). Revenue mechanics are anchored in a direct enterprise salesforce of approximately 1,000 people across 27 marketing offices reaching over 25,000 medical institutions and 10,000 drugstores in 30 Chinese provinces, plus an approximately 100-person overseas team covering 47 countries through subsidiaries (Beijing Holley-Cotec and Kunming Baker Norton) and channel partnerships with Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, and Teva. Customer segments span hospitals and clinics, retail pharmacies, and international healthcare providers and global health agencies — the latter via WHO Model List of Essential Medicines inclusion and UNICEF procurement of Artemether Injection. The portfolio carries multiple national-essential-medicine designations, GMP certifications from CFDA, WHO, TGA, and FDA, and protected TCM product status.

KPC's recent strategic posture emphasizes international development — formalized in the 2015 rebrand to KPC Pharmaceutical Inc. — and diversification beyond the cardiovascular/antimalarial core into chronic-disease biologics, headlined by the Diabegone GLP-1 fusion protein program under Chief Scientist Professor Wang Qinghua (Kunming Yinnuo JV, 2014) and into Central Asia raw-material sourcing via the KPC Nukus Herbal Technology JV in Uzbekistan (2014). The 2024 acquisition of China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Holdings and integration of Beijing Holley-Cotec (2014) extend both the product surface and the international distribution footprint. KPC reports eight principal subsidiaries spanning manufacturing, distribution, ethnic medicine, and international marketing.

Name

KPC

Legal name

KPC Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Website

https://en.kpc.com.cn

Company type

Public

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KPC Pharmaceuticals is a Kunming-based, Shanghai-listed (600422) Chinese pharmaceutical company developing and manufacturing innovative natural botanical drugs — Panax Notoginseng, Gastrodine, Artemisinin, and special botanicals — distributed domestically to 25,000+ medical institutions and exported to 47 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traditional Chinese Medicine (Botanical Pharmaceutical Manufacturing)

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Botanical & Herbal Extracts (Adaptogens, Polyphenols, Essential Oils, Standardized Extracts) (AFAJAKAD), Specialty Pharmacy & Biologics Distribution (CRAOAHAD)

Keywords

• Botanical drug manufacturing
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Artemisinin antimalarials
• Cardiovascular cerebrovascular drugs
• Natural pharmaceutical R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Kunming

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Natural Botanical Drugs: KPC focuses on innovative natural botanical drugs. Business scope covers traditional Chinese medicine (artemether series, panax notoginseng series, gastrodine series, special Chinese medicines and special ethnic drugs).
2. Chemical Medicine: Production and marketing of chemical pharmaceutical products including antibiotics and arthrosis treatments through joint ventures.
3. Medicinal Circulation: Commercial wholesales and distribution of pharmaceutical products across Yunnan Province covering antibiotics, chemical medicinal raw materials, chemical pharmaceutical preparations, Chinese patent medicines, traditional Chinese medicinal materials, biological products, biochemical drugs and health foods.
4. International Marketing: Export and international marketing operations. KPC has obtained import and export operation rights since 1993. Marketing network covers 47 countries worldwide in Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and South America.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KPC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets innovative natural botanical drugs across four product lines: (1) Panax Notoginseng series (Luotai Injection, Xuesaitong Injection, Luotai Soft Capsules, freeze-dried powder) for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases; (2) Gastrodine series (Gastrodin Capsules, Acetagastrodin Tablets, Gastrodin Tablets, Tianxuanqing Gastrodin Injection) for nervous system disorders; (3) Artemisinins (ARCO, Comether, Artemether Injection, DUO_COTECXIN) for malaria treatment; and (4) Special Botanical Drugs covering arthritis, diabetes, inflammation, and gynecological conditions. The company integrates R&D, production, marketing, commercial wholesales, and international marketing, with over 40 new natural botanical drugs developed and operations spanning 30 provinces in China and 47 countries internationally.

Product overview

KPC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on innovative natural botanical drugs, integrating R&D, production, marketing, commercial wholesales, and international marketing. The company operates four main product lines: (1) Panax Notoginseng series including Luotai Injection, Luotai Soft Capsule, Xuesaitong Injection (5ml/10ml), Luotai Xuesaitong Soft Capsules, and Luotai Xuesaitong Freeze-dried Powder for Injection; (2) Gastrodine series including Gastrodin Capsules, Acetagastrodin Tablets, Gastrodin Tablets, and Tianxuanqing Gastrodin Injection; (3) Artemisinins including ARCO, Comether Tablets, Artemether Injection 80mg, and DUO_COTECXIN ACT Antimalarial; (4) Special Botanical Drugs including Helicid Tablets, Compound Artemisia Spray, Colchicines Tablets, Lushuicao Capsules, Fibrauretine Tablets/Injection, Breviscapine Tablets, Bulleyaconitine A Soft Capsules, Qiyeshen'an Tablets, Yinqin Capsules, and Dengyinnaotong Capsules. The business scope covers traditional Chinese medicine, chemical medicine, and medicinal circulation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Luotai Injection Panax notoginseng saponins injection for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, hemiplegia, infarction, angina, and vestibular disorders. Achieves 92.1% thrombosis inhibition rate and improves t-PA activity.
• Luotai Soft Capsule Oral soft capsule formulation of panax notoginseng saponins for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease treatment, designed to overcome poor oral absorption of PNS.
• Xuesaitong Injection Panax notoginseng-based injection jointly developed with Kunming Institute of Botany, with proprietary quality standards. Available in 5ml and 10ml dosage sizes for cardiovascular indications.
• Luotai Xuesaitong Soft Capsules Patented oral soft capsules of panax notoginseng saponins with over 85% total saponin content (10% higher than national standard), featuring improved absorption over conventional oral preparations. Launched in 2005.
• Luotai Xuesaitong Freeze-dried Powder for Injection National healthcare medicine and national essential medicine with six functions: anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombus, anti-platelet aggregation, improving hemorheology, scavenging oxygen free radicals, and improving microcirculation. Produced using proprietary freeze-drying technology.
• Gastrodin Capsules Oral sedative and analgesic for dizziness and headaches, produced through artificial synthesis of gastrodin. Hailed as a 'model of traditional Chinese medicine manufactured in a modern way'.
• Acetagastrodin Tablets Structurally modified gastrodin derivative with 1.77x higher sedation index than gastrodin due to improved liposolubility, indicated for neurasthenic syndrome treatment.
• Gastrodin Tablets First available gastrodin monomer preparation on the market with over 30 years of clinical application for sedation, analgesia, and hypnosis.
• Tianxuanqing Gastrodin Injection First approved gastrodin preparation for intravenous administration in China, demonstrating 90.6% efficacy ratio for vertigo treatment in Phase I and II GCP clinical trials.
• ARCO Patented new antimalarial combining artemisinin and naphthoquine phosphate, the world's first single-dose administration antimalarial drug, demonstrated to cure drug-resistant non-complex malaria with a single dose.
• Comether Tablets First generation artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) antimalarial co-developed with the China Academy of Military Medical Science.
• Artemether Injection 80mg Groundbreaking innovative antimalarial drug developed in the 1980s based on artemisinin. Included in WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines, WHO Guidelines for the treatment of malaria, and UNICEF procurement list.
• DUO_COTECXIN ACT Antimalarial Artemisinin-based combination therapy antimalarial product.
• Helicid Tablets Sedative, hypnotic, and analgesic medicine for headaches, dizziness, and dyssomnia caused by neurosis.
• Compound Artemisia Spray Dampness-eliminating, heat-clearing spray for prevention and treatment of hemorrhoids.
• Colchicines Tablets First choice treatment for acute rheumatic arthritis and prevention of recurrent acute gouty arthritis attacks.
• Lushuicao Capsules Yin-nourishing, heat-clearing capsules for diabetes and type II diabetes treatment.
• Fibrauretine Tablets/Injection Heat-clearing medicine for gynecological inflammation, bacillary dysentery, enteritis, and respiratory tract infections.
• Breviscapine Tablets Blood circulation-activating medicine for apoplexy sequela, angina, coronary heart disease, and senile dementia.
• Bulleyaconitine A Soft Capsules Modern medicine with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties extracted from Aconitum Longtounense for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Qiyeshen'an Tablets Qi-benefiting, blood circulation-promoting tablets for cardiac insufficiency, insomnia, and tumor-related symptoms.
• Yinqin Capsules Traditional herbal drug containing houttuynia cordata, honeysuckle, scutellaria baicalensis, and panax notoginseng for upper respiratory infections.
• Dengyinnaotong Capsules Traditional Yi ethnic formula for prevention of ischemic atherosclerotic cerebrovascular diseases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artemether Injection included in WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines, WHO Guidelines for treatment of malaria, and UNICEF procurement list
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AKMANGIT-LAKRITSAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2014In November 2014, KPC Nukus Herbal Technology Co. Ltd. was established as a joint-venture between KPC and AKMANGIT-LAKRITSA. KPC holds 90% of shares. The first stage is designed to process 4,000 tons of glycyrrhiza for 400 tons annual production of glycyrrhizic acid, with total industrial output value exceeding USD 10 million.
• Hong Kong Yiyun Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, KPC established Kunming Yinnuo Medical Technology Co. Ltd. (later also referred to as Kunming Silver Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd.) with Hong Kong Yiyun Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. to develop long-term anti-diabetic drug GLP-1 fusion protein.
• Japan SKK (Seikagaku Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004In 2004, KBN introduced project 'Artz' - sodium hyaluronate for injection from Japan SKK. Artz is the first sodium hyaluronate for injection listed in the market worldwide and the most frequently-used in articular cavities.
• Swiss ComplectorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996In 1996, KPC formed a joint-venture with Swiss Complector to establish a pharmaceutical enterprise.
• Novartis AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994In 1994, KPC reached a cooperative agreement with Novartis AG for Coartem (artemether and lumefantrine tablets). Coartem has brought revolutionary progress to malaria treatment worldwide.
• IVAX CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992In 1992, KPC established the joint-venture Kunming Baker Norton Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (KBN) with IVAX Corporation. KBN is the first Sino-foreign joint venture in Yunnan pharmaceutical industry. In 2005, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries merged with IVAX.
• Sanofi-Aventis (formerly Rhone-Poulenc)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991In 1991, KPC cooperated with French Rhone-Poulenc (now Sanofi-Aventis) for producing artemether for injection. This partnership established KPC as a key player in the global antimalarial drug market.
• Harvard Medical School Molecular Biology LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationKPC worked with Molecular Biology Laboratory of Harvard Medical School on the development of the innovative Luotai product.
• MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPC conducted multi-center clinical research and R&D for new antimalarials with the Swiss anti-malaria R&D venture fund MMV.
• Yunnan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostdoctoral Scientific Research Workstation approved by National Ministry of Personnel, in cooperation with Yunnan University.
• Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostdoctoral Scientific Research Workstation in cooperation with Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Also jointly developed Xuesaitong Injection and drug structure modification research.
• China Academy of Military Medical Science (AMMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPC worked with China Academy of Military Medical Science to develop ARCO (artemisinin and naphthoquine phosphate tablets), the world's first single-dose antimalarial drug. Also developed Comether and Artemether Injection together.
• Shanghai Institute of Materia MedicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPC worked with Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and other R&D institutes to successfully develop artemether injection - a landmark antimalarial drug.
• Institute of Materia Medica (IMM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPC worked with Institute of Materia Medica (IMM) to develop groundbreaking Artemether Injection based on artemisinin.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yunnan Baiyao Group: Yunnan-based flagship Chinese TCM conglomerate with national-essential-medicine status, broad botanical drug portfolio, and a similar domestic distribution + international expansion model. Most directly comparable Chinese peer in the botanical/TCM pharmaceutical space.
• Livzon Pharmaceutical Group: Mid-size Chinese pharmaceutical company with a meaningful TCM/botanical drug segment, cardiovascular and oncology franchises, and a similar product-development pipeline approach. Closely comparable in scale and therapeutic focus.
• China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings: Hong Kong-listed pure-play TCM pharmaceutical company (Sinopharm subsidiary) focused on Chinese medicine formulas, with a similar product mix of finished botanical dosage forms and national essential drug listings. Direct peer in the Chinese botanical pharmaceutical category.
• Tianjin Tasly Pharmaceutical Group: Leading Chinese botanical drug innovator with cardiovascular flagship products (e.g., Compound Danshen) and significant R&D investment in modernized TCM. Highly comparable in business model, therapeutic area focus, and modernization strategy.
• China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical: Major SOE-backed Chinese TCM pharmaceutical company with national-essential-medicine status, broad botanical/TCM portfolio, and a similar mix of OTC and prescription natural products. Comparable in scale and distribution reach.
• Guilin Pharmaceutical (Shanghai Fosun Pharma subsidiary): Major Chinese producer of artemisinin-based antimalarials and WHO-prequalified supplier, operating in the same ACT/antimalarial category as KPC. One of the most direct competitors in international malaria tenders and the same African/Southeast Asian geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Sanofi: French pharma major and KPC's artemether for injection partner since 1991. A global incumbent in cardiovascular, neurology, and infectious disease therapeutic areas that overlap with KPC's product lines, and a long-standing distribution partner.
• Novartis AG: Swiss pharma major and KPC's Coartem (artemether-lumefantrine) partner since 1994. Operates the dominant global ACT franchise for malaria — overlapping with KPC's antimalarial business and serving the same international health organization procurement channel.
• Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings: Larger, state-affiliated Chinese pharmaceutical conglomerate with TCM, chemical drug, and healthcare product lines. Broader portfolio than KPC but operates in overlapping botanical drug categories and competes in the same Chinese medical institution channels.

Others

• MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture): Swiss-based product development partnership that funds and co-develops new antimalarials; KPC is a clinical R&D partner. Comparable as the leading global convener in the antimalarial category that KPC competes within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KPC