China’s 7th national volume-based procurement (VBP) round concluded with winning bids averaging a 65.5% price reduction compared to ceiling prices, as domestic firms dominated the tender. The results, announced by the national alliance procurement office, are open for public feedback until July 15, with full province-by-province allocations pending.
Key Results
- Scale: 60 drug products, 163 companies, 327 tender spots.
- Price Cuts: Average 65.5% reduction in winning bids.
- Withdrawals: Sulfamethoxazole (oral normal release) withdrawn from the original 61-product list.
Domestic Companies Dominate
- Qilu Pharma: Secured 16 tender spots.
- Yangtze River Pharma: 12 wins.
- Kelun Pharma: 11 wins.
- Sinopharm: 10 wins.
- CSPC Group: 9 wins.
- Sino Bio: 9 wins.
- CR Double-Crane: 6 wins.
Foreign Firms Secure Bids
Six foreign companies won bids:
- Hetero (India): Oseltamivir (3rd-lowest bid).
- Bracco (Italy): Iopamidol (contrast agent, 2nd-lowest bid).
- Almirall SA (Spain): Ebastine (antihistamine).
- Sandoz: Ezetimibe (cholesterol-lowering).
- Astellas: Micafungin (anti-fungal).
- Pfizer: Tigecycline (antibiotic).
Notably, iopamidol, ebastine, and tigecycline were won by originator companies, a shift from recent trends.
Financial Impact
The VBP tender is projected to save China RMB18.5 billion ($2.75 billion) annually in health expenditure. New drug prices will take effect from November 2022.-Fineline Info & Tech
