The Seeking Alpha site has a great, brief, 10-company update on pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices companies launching initiatives, or experiencing improved profitability, in emerging markets. Companies mentioned range from Eli Lilly and Pfizer (covered here previously) to NeoStem, NeuroLogica (based in Massachusetts) and Vital Images. Some are established companies in developed nations entering emerging markets while others are in emerging market countries and seeing their business prosper.

Here are two examples, one spotlighting NeuroLogica of Massachusetts and the other about the Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical Company in China:

NeuroLogica Corporation, a privately held medical imaging company… will begin marketing its CereTom portable CT scanner in China, following approval of the machine by the SFDA… NeuroLogica will open a business liaison office in Beijing to facilitate sales. CereTom is a portable eight-slice head and neck CT scanner that can be used in hospitals or medical clinics.

As a sign that the worst part of the economic crisis may be past, Guilin Sanjin Pharmaceutical Co., a maker of traditional Chinese medicines, announced it will be the first China IPO of any sector in 2009 (see story). The company is planning to make its debut on June 29 on the Shenzhen exchange. China regulators banned IPOs nine months ago, after the Shanghai Composite Index fell 60% in 2008. Guilin Sanjin will issue up to 46 million new shares to fund 10 projects that will require 634 million RMB ($93 million) of investment.

It is an unmistakable conclusion from reading this brief that emerging markets are moving to front and center in the strategic plans of many healthcare companies.