The cost of lab monkeys in China has climbed to about 140,000 yuan (US$20,260), exceeding the country’s average yearly wage. These monkeys are crucial in testing new drugs for safety before human trials. Prices have doubled in five years, with a recent Shanghai Institute tender paying roughly 137,800 yuan per cynomolgus macaque. In 2023, another agency paid 170,000 yuan amid a COVID-19 trial rush. Experts note that increased biotech funding is driving demand for more monkeys in safety tests. Analyst Helen Chen linked the rise to more clinical trials and investigational drug applications requiring primate testing. Supply is tight, with farms fully booked into 2026. Some research groups have bought their own monkey farms to secure stock. For example, WuXi AppTec owns over 30,000 monkeys, Joinn Laboratories 25,000, and Triapex Laboratories 20,000. However, analysts say the rising monkey price will have little impact on drug costs since animal testing is only a small part of overall expenses. The National Bureau of Statistics reports China's average annual wage as 102,452 yuan in 2024, highlighting how steep the price rise is for these test animals.