BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

China essential drug list includes newly approved HCV therapy

October 26, 2018 11:10 PM UTC

China released its updated essential drug list, reflecting over 100 newly added drugs across multiple categories, including cancer and pediatric drugs.

Cancer drugs Iressa gefitinib, MabThera rituximab, Gleevac imatinib and Herceptin trastuzumab were among some of the new arrivals to the list, previously updated in 2012. Antiviral Epclusa sofosbuvir/velpatasvir from Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) was also added to the list; China approved the drug in May for adults with chronic HCV genotypes 1-6 infection. Gilead has said Epclusa is the first single-tablet, pan-genotypic, once-daily treatment approved in China for HCV...