Core Insights - The price of the crab-eating macaque has surged above 100,000 yuan, marking a significant increase of over 30% from previous levels, leading to a budget shortfall of more than 1 million yuan for companies [1][3] - The supply of macaques is critically low, with many companies struggling to find suitable sources despite the rising prices, indicating a "monkey price upcycle" [1][3] - The demand for macaques is expected to remain high, with estimates suggesting prices will fluctuate between 70,000 and 150,000 yuan over the next two to three years [2][4] Price Trends - The price of crab-eating macaques has seen a dramatic increase, with historical data showing a 14-fold rise over the past seven years, particularly after 2017 when prices began to escalate [3][4] - The peak price reached 200,000 yuan in 2022, but has since stabilized around 100,000 yuan, still significantly impacting the budgets of pharmaceutical companies [4][10] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The current supply of macaques is insufficient to meet the growing demand, with an estimated annual shortfall of about 10,000 macaques in China [12] - The breeding cycle for crab-eating macaques is lengthy, taking approximately six to seven years from birth to maturity, which complicates the ability to quickly respond to market demands [10][12] - Major Contract Research Organizations (CROs) have begun acquiring macaque breeding facilities, further constraining the available supply for smaller companies [12] Industry Implications - The rising prices and supply shortages are creating a challenging environment for pharmaceutical companies, which rely on macaques for critical preclinical safety evaluations [4][10] - The ongoing demand for innovative drug development, particularly in areas like antibody drugs and gene therapy, underscores the importance of macaques in the research process [10][12] - The situation is exacerbated by the recent news of the CDC in the U.S. halting internal research involving monkeys, raising concerns about the future of animal research and its implications for drug development [13][14]