China Uses Gene-Edited Animals to Win Biotech Race

China’s biotechnology sector is pushing the boundaries of animal research with large-scale gene-editing of pigs, monkeys and dogs — part of a state-driven push to become a global biotech leader.

According to multiple reports, researchers at institutes like Tsinghua University in Beijing have induced symptoms of human diseases such as ALS, autism and schizophrenia in large animals — experiments that would face far stricter oversight in the U.S. and Europe.

China’s government invested an estimated US$3 billion into biotech in 2023 and backbeds breeding, research and gene-editing centers for large animals.

The market for animal models in China is projected to grow rapidly — the animal biotechnology market is expected to reach about US$2.38 billion by 2030.

With fewer ethical and regulatory constraints compared with Western markets, China’s research landscape allows faster progress, raising strategic implications for global drug development and regulatory standards.

Experts warn that as large-animal models become more common, questions about oversight, dual-use applications, and international collaboration will intensify.