Natural musk from the musk deer isnow being replaced by an artificialvariety made by Chinese scientistsworking on this project since 1976.
Musk is an ingredient in 295Chinese medicines, with the industryusing 4,000-5,000 kg every year. Themusk deer is an endangered and protected species in China and the musktrade is banned worldwide.
The trial involved over 1,000 patients in 7 hospitals. The trial production of artificial musk is on at thepharmaceutical institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.