"After years of development, the internationalization of China's traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry has achieved remarkable results. TCM has become an important force in global health governance and in building a shared community of health for mankind," said Meng Dongping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE), at a parallel forum — the Traditional Medicine Products and Regulation Forum — during the 2024 World Traditional Medicine Conference.

According to CCCMHPIE data, in the first three quarters of 2024, China's export value of TCM products reached US$3.892 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 6.56%. However, exports of Chinese patent medicines bucked the trend, reaching US$297 million, a year-on-year increase of 21.29%. This data indicates that international demand for TCM remains strong, especially in the field of Chinese patent medicines, where market potential is huge.

Technological innovation is the core driving force behind the development of the TCM industry. With the introduction of modern technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, the R&D and application of TCM are becoming more scientific and modernized. In the future, TCM innovation and R&D will focus on digitalization, intelligence, and internationalization. On the one hand, AI and big data technologies will enable precision cultivation of medicinal herbs, quality control, and intelligent TCM services. On the other hand, the Belt and Road Initiative will promote the international development of TCM and increase its global market share. In addition, TCM will further integrate with modern medicine, biotechnology and other fields, expanding its scope of application.

In this process, HPMC capsules, as a modern dosage form of TCM, are becoming an important catalyst for expanding TCM's presence in international markets. HPMC capsules offer many unique advantages: their low moisture content (as low as 3%) provides a relatively dry environment for hygroscopic drugs, reducing contact between the drug and moisture, thereby significantly extending shelf life. When stored at room temperature indoors, the shelf life of HPMC capsules can reach 36 months, providing strong support for the long-term storage and transportation of TCM formulations.

Furthermore, HPMC capsules have high chemical stability, contain no proteins or amino acids, and do not undergo cross-linking reactions with the contents. They better protect the active ingredients of TCM, ensure slow release of the drug in the human body, thus prolonging efficacy and improving therapeutic outcomes. The widespread use of HPMC capsules not only improves patient medication compliance but also provides new technical support for the internationalization of TCM. Compared with traditional gelatin capsules, HPMC capsules are more suitable for encapsulating complex TCM formulations, avoiding drug inactivation and stability reduction caused by cross-linking reactions.

Although TCM internationalization has achieved encouraging results over the past few years, the path "going global" still faces many challenges, and the road is long and arduous. The vast majority of capsule drugs launched internationally in recent years use HPMC capsule dosage forms, such as Merck & Co.'s COVID-19 antiviral drug molnupiravir capsules. For the international market expansion of TCM, the introduction of HPMC capsules is undoubtedly an important breakthrough. By adopting this modern dosage form, TCM can enter international markets more conveniently and meet the needs of more patients. At the same time, the environmentally friendly characteristics of HPMC capsules align with the current global pursuit of sustainable development, helping to enhance the image and competitiveness of TCM in international markets.

"The road is long, but perseverance will bring success." As the TCM industry continues to deepen the application of HPMC capsules, it is believed that the international market expansion of TCM will usher in even broader development prospects.