JunTop Biosciences’ COVID-19 Therapy Mindewei Priced at RMB 795 per Course

Sichuan’s provincial Healthcare Security Administration bureau has notified that Shanghai JunTop Biosciences Co., Ltd’s COVID-19 therapy Mindewei (deuremidevir) is to be initially quoted at RMB 795 (USD 117.23) per treatment course. This pricing announcement marks the entry of Mindewei into the market, offering a new treatment option for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases.

Development Background
Deuremidevir emerged from co-development between the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and other research institutes. In October 2021, Junshi established a joint venture with Vigonvita Life Sciences Co., Ltd, a neuropsychiatric and infectious diseases specialist incubated by SIMM in Suzhou. The JV, Shanghai JunTop Biosciences Co., Ltd, is responsible for JT001’s development and secured an emergency use approval for the drug in Uzbekistan in December 2021 after conducting a clinical trial in that country. The drug obtained conditional approval in China in late January this year.

Market Pricing and Competitors
Other COVID-19 therapies in the market include Simcere Pharma’s SIM0417, Pfizer’s Paxlovid, MSD’s molnupiravir, and Genuine Bio’s azvudine. These treatments are priced at RMB 750 (USD 111), RMB 1,890 (USD 279.86), RMB 1,500 (USD 222.11), and RMB 445 (USD 65.89) per treatment course, respectively. Notably, azvudine is priced at RMB 540 (USD 79.96) pre-NRDL and RMB 350 (USD 51.83) post-NRDL, reflecting the impact of China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) on pricing.-Fineline Info & Tech

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