China’s 7th national Volume-Based Procurement (VBP) round concluded with winning bids for 60 drug products worth over RMB4.4 billion ($651 million). The results, released by VBP authorities, show Shijiazhuang No. 4 Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd as the top contract winner, while six foreign firms secured deals totaling RMB76.7 million (1.7% of total).
Top Winners
- Shijiazhuang No. 4 Pharmaceutical: RMB246 million
- Yipinhong Pharmacy: RMB193 million
- Renhe Yikang Group: RMB168 million
- Sichuan Meida Kangle Pharma: RMB156 million
- Sinopharm Group: RMB155 million
- Novast Laboratories: RMB114 million
- Qilu Pharmaceutical: RMB114 million (16 tender wins)
Foreign Firms
Foreign winners included:
- Bracco (Italy): RMB34.4 million for iopamidol (contrast agent)
- Almirall (Spain): RMB13.7 million for ebastine (antihistamine)
- Astellas Pharma (Japan): RMB3.4 million for micafungin (anti-fungal)
- Sandoz (Switzerland): RMB19.7 million for ezetimibe (cholesterol-lowering)
- Pfizer (US): RMB4.9 million for tigecycline (antibiotic)
- Hetero (India): RMB655,000 for oseltamivir (flu drug)
New Rules
For the first time, companies chose provinces for supply, requiring same-molecule drugs to be sold at VBP prices in those regions to reduce price disparities.
Implementation
The centralized procurement results will take effect from November 2022, with provinces rolling out new prices individually.-Fineline Info & Tech
