Sirio Pharma Co., Ltd., founded in 1993 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2019, has evolved into a globally recognized contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) within the nutraceutical sector. Operating seven automated plants and five R&D centers across China, the U.S., and Europe, Sirio delivers comprehensive end-to-end solutions—from formulation and research to packaging, logistics, and marketing support.
BCC Global Media recently interviewed Alex Du, General Manager for Asia Pacific, who has dedicated more than 20 years to Sirio. Du shared his vision for the company’s international expansion, emphasizing the strategic precision fueling its global growth.
BCC Global Media: Could you start by telling us a little bit more about your company and yourself? Sirio Pharma is often described as a rising star in China’s pharmaceutical sector, and it’s impressive to see your growth in international markets.
Alex: Thank you for the opportunity. My name is Alex Du, and I’m currently Head of the Asia Pacific Business Unit at Sirio. The company was established in 1993 as a pharmaceutical company, but soon after, we pivoted to the nutraceutical sector. We started in China and now operate across three continents with nine manufacturing facilities. The business is growing steadily, reflecting our ambition for further expansion.
BCC Global Media: You’ve been with Sirio for more than 20 years, correct?
Alex: Yes, that’s correct.
BCC Global Media: When you joined the company, it was very different in terms of growth, revenue, and size compared to today. Could you share what it was like when you first started, and how you feel now after two decades?
Alex: I joined in 2004, and this was my first job. At that time, Sirio had fewer than 200 employees and focused primarily on the domestic Chinese market. We conducted limited exports, mainly to Hong Kong and Macau—our overseas presence was minimal. Today, we supply products to more than 50 countries and regions.
What hasn’t changed is the leadership team and our vision: to grow the business and become a global leader in the nutraceutical industry. What has evolved is our international footprint. We now have teams in the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific, serving a highly diversified customer base that includes multinational pharmaceutical companies, direct-selling firms, national and local nutrition brands, private-label retailers, and rapidly expanding e-commerce businesses.
BCC Global Media: From what I understand, China still contributes a large share of your revenue, but you’re also expanding into Southeast Asia, South Korea, and potentially the Middle East. Could you tell us about your export strategy?
Alex: Currently, our three primary markets are China, North America, and Europe. China accounts for roughly 50% of our revenue, slightly less in recent years, with the remainder generated overseas. In Asia-Pacific, we are just beginning to explore opportunities. Southeast Asia represents an emerging market, while Japan and Korea are mature, innovation-driven markets. We see strong growth potential in both.
BCC Global Media: Could you highlight the key products or solutions that international customers expect from Sirio?
Alex: Sirio positions itself not merely as a manufacturer but as a CDMO, combining manufacturing excellence with innovation. We produce traditional formats like soft gels, capsules, and tablets, as well as innovative forms such as gummies, liquids, and jellies. Consumers increasingly prefer supplements that are enjoyable to take, making these new formats critical.
We also provide end-to-end services across the value chain. With five global R&D centers, we can respond swiftly to customer needs—from concept and market insights to product commercialization and post-sales marketing support. Additionally, we conduct efficacy studies that our customers highly value.
BCC Global Media: Competition in this industry is intense. What differentiates Sirio from others?
Alex: One key differentiator is our pharmaceutical DNA. Our founders and leadership team come from a pharmaceutical background, and we manufacture nutraceutical products to pharmaceutical-grade standards. This has earned the trust of major companies like AbbVie and Bayer, who are now strategic partners. Another strength is our comprehensive partnership model—we collaborate with clients from initial R&D and formulation design to regulatory compliance, manufacturing, and logistics. This allows our clients to concentrate on marketing while we manage the rest.
BCC Global Media: Given global supply chain risks—such as U.S.-China trade tensions and logistics disruptions—how is Sirio addressing these challenges?
Alex: Globalization has been central to our strategy for years. Even before recent tensions, we established a U.S. office and sales team over a decade ago. We follow a “local-for-local” strategy, establishing not only sales teams but also supply chains in each region. That’s why we have manufacturing facilities in the U.S. for North America and LATAM, in Europe for European markets, and we are now building a facility in Thailand to serve Southeast Asia and other Asian markets.
Our APAC team alone includes employees from six different nationalities, and we plan to diversify further by hiring local teams for local markets.
BCC Global Media: Looking ahead, do you plan to collaborate with local overseas partners, research institutions, or pursue M&A, especially in regions like South Korea or Southeast Asia?
Alex: Yes. For example, we have an anti-aging initiative through our Sirio Anti-Aging Institute. We collaborate with institutes in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and plan to expand these partnerships. We also work closely with local distributors and even manufacturers, whom we see as potential collaborators rather than mere competitors. Korea is particularly important for us—it’s the second-largest VMS market in Asia-Pacific after Japan, highly mature and innovation-driven, with diverse consumer needs. Collaborating with local partners will be key to addressing these needs. To further strengthen Sirio presence in Korea, Sirio recently recruited its first local representative, Josh Jung, who leads Sirio’s operations in Korea.
BCC Global Media: Thank you, Alex. Chinese medicine has a long history spanning thousands of years, and it’s inspiring to see companies like Sirio leveraging this heritage while expanding globally. Congratulations on your recent expansion into Southeast and Northeast Asia. I look forward to seeing Sirio’s continued growth.