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On December 8, authorities announced the addition of 114 new medications to the country’s essential medical insurance, maternity coverage, and work injury insurance drug lists. This update aims to address gaps in treatments for major, rare, and chronic illnesses.
Among the newly included drugs are treatments for triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. The updated list, effective starting January 1, also covers new therapies for Langerhans cell histiocytosis, thalassemia, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and autoimmune diseases.
Hengrui Pharmaceuticals saw nine of its products added to the national list for the first time, while 11 other products with new uses were similarly renewed. The company’s sales of these 20 medications reached approximately CNY7.6 billion (roughly USD1.1 billion) in the first nine months of the year, compared to about CNY8.7 billion last year.
Genrix Biopharmaceutical’s xeligekimab injection, used for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis, was also included. Meanwhile, Junshi Biosciences’ toripalimab injection was added for all 12 approved indications in mainland China, marking it as the sole anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody on the list approved for renal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and melanoma.
Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, a treatment for type 2 diabetes involving glucagon-like peptide-1, was introduced less than a year after its debut in the country. The drug is now covered for blood sugar regulation in adults but does not include weight loss benefits.
The inclusion of innovative drugs under the national health insurance allows patients to access advanced treatments at reduced costs, according to Huzur Devletsah, president of Eli Lilly’s China division. The company plans to launch over 20 new products and expanded uses within the market.
Novartis’ long-acting cholesterol-lowering medication, Inclisiran Sodium Injection, which initially cost CNY9,988 (approximately USD1,415) per dose, was also added. It is the first small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy of its kind, with a single dose able to sustain its effect for six months. Experts predict the price will likely decrease by over 60%, potentially settling around CNY3,000, once covered by insurance.
Additionally, the health authority has granted a transition period until the end of June next year for drugs that previously failed renewal assessments and were removed from the list.
Stock prices of relevant pharmaceutical companies experienced varied movements following the announcement. Hengrui Pharmaceuticals rose 1.5% to CNY62.55, Aidea Pharma increased by 3.2% to CNY13.59, Genrix Biopharmaceutical declined by 0.5% to CNY27.82, Fosun Pharmaceutical gained 0.9% to CNY27.37, and Huadong Medicine saw an increase of 1.2% to CNY42.65.
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