China’s expanded list of drugs for centralized procurement comes with new rules

Following the nationwide expansion of China’s pilot program for centralized procurement of generics and off-patent originator drugs, Beijing is adding a second group of 33 drugs and unveiling new rules that could increase the number of winning sponsors that receive guaranteed market share. The latest batch, which brings to 58 the number of drugs included in the program, includes therapies for infectious diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular indications as well as three cancer drugs: Zytiga, Abraxane and Teysuno.

Under the volume-based procurement program, manufacturers whose products have passed bio-equivalence testing offer pricing discounts in exchange for guaranteed market share, with contracts awarded by the government to the lowest bidder. ...