BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

June 24 P&P Quick Takes: Priority generics in China; plus CMS price transparency and more

June 24, 2019 11:43 PM UTC

China publishes list of generic drugs for priority approval
To encourage development of generic drugs, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) announced the country's first annual list of 34 off-patent and soon to be off-patent drugs, including those in short supply, for priority review and approval. The list includes breast cancer drug Faslodex fulvestrant from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN), HIV drug Edurant rilpivirine from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and other drugs developed by multinational corporations. The list was published on June 20 and public comments are due by June 27. China’s State Council announced it would create the list last year (see "China Implements Policies to Encourage Generics").

CMS tool will allow patients to know drug cost while in doctor's office
Doctors will have access to a tool that will allow them to tell patients what their out-of-pocket cost for a prescribed drug will be based on their health insurance coverage at the time of care, as well as provide information on potential alternatives. The tool is included in a new CMS rule set to go into effect next month that will require list price disclosures in direct-to-consumer television advertisements (see "Azar Backs Drug Importation As He Unveils Final TV Ad Rule")...