Currently, the farm has 400 black bears, making it the largest black bear breeding base in southern China. Last year, the company faced opposition from non-governmental organizations such as the Animals Asia Foundation due to its intention to go public, with the reason being that extracting bile from live bears violates animal protection ethics.
For example, a box of "Ursofalk" (Ursodeoxycholic Acid Capsules) 250mg x 25 can retail for up to 298 yuan. An unnamed industry insider stated that this means if extracting bile from live bears is prohibited, patients in our country may only be able to use expensive imported drugs. This might be what the association refers to as a conspiracy theory.
Written by reporter Huang Pei
However, the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry provided a different perspective. A letter previously sent to the media directly pointed out a bigger conspiracy behind this matter - "to monopolize China's liver and gallbladder drug market for the benefit of Western interest groups." The Animals Asia Foundation subsequently responded, stating they have never avoided their stance on eliminating the bear farming industry but have always respected traditional Chinese medicine. This letter's accusation against the Animals Asia Fund was completely baseless. They reserved the right to further respond.
But currently within the industry, there are differing opinions on whether Ursodeoxycholic Acid and Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid can fully replace bear bile powder. A TCM expert publicly stated that artificially synthesized Ursodeoxycholic Acid is merely one component among the bile acids in the five categories of components found in bear bile, lacking the various efficacies of bear bile and cannot completely replace it.
The substitute for bear bile is at most an imported drug
Yesterday, a vice president of the TCM Industry Association told this reporter that the association had already held several seminars on the topic of extracting bile from live bears. Bear bile has always been a very important medicinal ingredient. Developing from wild resources to artificial breeding has already been a significant advancement, and compared to before, the entire bear bile industry has become more standardized. Moreover, the bile extraction technology is very advanced, using pain-free drainage techniques which have already been promoted nationwide. Without this technology, bear farming would not be allowed. "However, the Animals Asia Foundation uses a bile extraction picture from over 20 years ago to confuse the public online; this behavior itself is showboating," said the person.
Although the opposition to Guizhentang's IPO is intense online, since "extracting bile from live bears" is still legal in our country, Guizhentang not only has legitimate operating qualifications but also has passed the regular listing procedure review. From a legal perspective, Guizhentang should be given the opportunity to list. But some insiders pointed out that while it can pass financial and legal inspections, corporate image and public opinion are also references considered by the CSRC. There were even companies that failed to list due to naming issues. Therefore, there are still many variables.
Legal but not moral
Embarrassment:
It is understood that bear bile is mainly used for clearing heat, brightening eyes, detoxifying, reducing boils, and stopping spasms, etc. Modern research has found that bear bile has good effects on dissolving gallstones and chronic cholecystitis. Bear bile is also known as the gold of medicine, and currently, there are over a hundred types of traditional Chinese medicine in our country that contain this ingredient. Due to the reduction in wild resources, many experts have started artificially cultivating animal medicines, such as artificial musk, artificial bezoar, etc. Can bear bile be replaced? Why did the TCM Industry Association bring up the conspiracy theory?
The external affairs director of the Asia Animal Fund in China, Zhang Xiaohai, expressed externally that the current bile extraction methods still cause immense suffering to black bears due to severe inflammation, bone joints, spine, teeth, and other problems. The mental anguish caused by confining black bears must not be overlooked.
During last year's "Two Sessions," the hot topic of extracting bile from live bears reoccurred this year. Fujian Guizhentang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., whose main business is bear bile products, recently appeared on the list of companies planning to list on the Growth Enterprise Market announced by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, once again sparking heated discussions among society and netizens. Animal protection organizations led by the Asia Animal Protection Foundation have all voiced their opinions, calling for resistance against Guizhentang's listing.
Imported drug prices are much higher than bear bile, and replacement is controversial
According to the introduction on the official website of Guizhentang Company, the company is the largest R&D and production enterprise of bear bile series products domestically.
This reporter queried the drug registration database of the National Food and Drug Administration, showing that drugs and raw materials with artificially synthesized Ursodeoxycholic Acid as the main component are indeed only imported drugs. Currently, a total of nine foreign enterprises have import licenses for this drug in our country. Similar efficacy and dosage, the price of artificially synthesized imported raw materials is significantly higher than domestic natural products.
It is understood that besides Guizhentang, Shanghai Kaibao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which also mainly operates bear bile, is relatively large-scale and is also preparing for an IPO.
But this issue has obviously surpassed Guizhentang itself. Currently, many animal-based medicinal resources in our country, including bear bile, are facing depletion. Whether to take the path of artificial breeding or abandon them and seek new substitutes has become a necessary challenge for the development of our traditional Chinese medicine.
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On the proposed IPO list published by the CSRC on February 1st, Guizhentang reappeared, intending to list on the Growth Enterprise Market, once again drawing social attention. Many netizens began expressing opposing voices on microblogs. The Asian Animal Protection Foundation also held discussions on some network media yesterday, publicly condemning the cruelty and lack of humanity in extracting bile from live bears, and indicating that if Guizhentang goes public, it will inevitably lead to more black bears being subjected to inhumane treatment.