China extols potential of AI in guideline on marine biopharmaceuticals
Ministry of Natural Resources urges research institutions and drug makers to use the technology to speed up the development of new drugs
China is stepping up efforts to explore the potential of medically important marine plants and animals, a field already valued in the billions of US dollars, as it looks to bolster its pharmaceutical industry.
The road map targets annual value-added output of over 130 billion yuan (US$19.2 billion) for marine medicines and related products – mainly health products and dietary supplements – by 2030, just over 30 per cent more than the total last year. It also aims to bring multiple innovative marine drugs to market within five years.
Marine-derived drugs cover a broad spectrum of sea life, ranging from pearls to deep-sea fish oil. Organisms like sponges, corals and algae are believed to hold great potential for new pharmaceutical discoveries because they survive in extreme environments of low temperatures, high salinity, darkness and intense pressure.