The National Medical Products Administration has released the finalized National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) for 2024, which includes 91 new drugs. Among these, 89 were added through negotiation/pricing bidding, and 2 were winning bids in the volume-based procurement (VBP). Concurrently, 43 drugs that had been supplanted in clinical use or were out of supply for an extended period were removed. Out of 117 ex-NRDL drugs involved in the negotiation/price bidding process, 89 were successful, maintaining a success and price reduction rate consistent with the previous year. The NRDL now covers a total of 3,159 drugs, including 1,765 western medicines and 1,394 traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). The updated list will be implemented starting January 1, 2025.
Significant Cost Savings and Price Reductions
The negotiations and price bidding channels involved 117 ex-NRDL drugs, with a 76% success rate as companies accepted an average of 63 price cuts to gain entry into the NRDL. The negotiation price reductions and NRDL reimbursements are expected to save patients more than RMB 50 billion in 2025.
Focus on New Drugs and Innovation in NRDL Adjustments
New drugs dominated the NRDL adjustments this year, with 90 out of the 91 newly added drugs being new product launches within the past five years. The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) considers Category 1 chemical drugs, Category 1 biologic products, and Category 1 and 3 Chinese patent drugs as “Global New” drugs, which are key to support. Among the 91 new entries, 38 are such drugs, setting a record high. The success rate of innovative drugs during the negotiation phase exceeded 90%. Of the 91 newly added drugs, 65 were from domestic manufacturers, accounting for over 70%.
Diverse Therapeutic Areas Covered by New Entries
The new entries include 26 drugs for tumors (including 4 rare diseases), 15 for chronic diseases such as diabetes (including 2 rare diseases), 13 for rare diseases, 7 for infections, and 4 for mental diseases, among others.-Fineline Info & Tech
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