Tongrentang (同仁堂), a royal drug firm 330 years ago, plans to increase its total sales value to 10 billion yuan (1.2 billion US dollars) within ten years and become a multinational pharmaceutical producer. Mei Qun, general manager of the China Beijing Tongrentang Groups, made the announcement at a forum on traditional Chinese medicine, which is part of the ongoing Beijing International Hi- Tech Industries Week.

New research is being done on the ancient recipes and new products are being developed to cater to the world market. The large pills, bitter decoctions of herbal medicines and other traditional Chinese medicines are being replaced by new dosage forms such as capsules, tablets and oral liquids.

The firm plans to develop more patent medicines and injections for the treatment of cancer, hepatitis and diabetes in the future.

Tongrentang's long-lasting prosperity is due to its emphasis on quality. However lacking a standard inspection method of the drugs is a major factor restricting traditional Chinese medicine from entering international markets. Researchers at Tongrentang introduced chromatographic analysis technology to map out the components of the best quality medicines. And production of medicines must be in accordance with the maps. Each medicine has a map which is as unique as a human fingerprint. So far, this technology is the best way to standardize the quality of traditional Chinese medicine. Also, molecular biotechnology will be used to discover the effective components in mineral medicines, and to remove the heavy metal components in traditional medicines.

Now the old firm is no longer a workshop with a pungent drug smell and dust as it was in hundreds years ago. Instead, the whole production process is operated by computer.

In order to protect endangered animals and plants, Tongrentang is looking for substitutes for musk, rhinoceros horn, tiger bone and liquorice, which have been used in traditional Chinese medicines. On the other hand, the firm will invest heavily in setting up herb planting centers.

Ranking first among China's 50 largest traditional Chinese medicine producers, Tongrentang currently produces over 800 varieties of medicines, and its total sales value in 2000 exceeded 2.5 billion yuan. The export value of the firm last year increased nearly one quarter compared with the previous year. On the basis of the enlarging market in Southeast Asia, the company will strengthen development in the markets of Europe and the United States. Joint ventures of Tongrentang have been set up in Malaysia, Australia, Britain and other countries and regions.