By Fineline Cube The National Joint Procurement Office (NJPO) has issued the Notice on Corporate Affiliations for the 12th Batch of National Organized Volume-Based Drug Procurement, opening the bidding process for public disclosure through July 22, 2026. The latest round features unprecedented competition in key therapeutic categories, with vonoprazan and vitamin B6 emerging as the most contested drugs, each attracting over 40 bidding enterprises.
Procurement Overview & Key Statistics
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Procurement Round | 12th Batch National Organized Volume-Based Drug Procurement |
| Disclosure Period | July 20-22, 2026 |
| Most Competitive Drugs | Vonoprazan, Vitamin B6 (>40 bidders each) |
| Top Participant | Kelun Pharmaceutical (18 product filings) |
| Second Highest | Brilliant Pharmaceuticals (17 product filings) |
| Patent Dispute Products | 8 products successfully shortlisted |
Market Dynamics & Strategic Implications
- Intense Competition: The participation of over 40 companies for single molecules indicates aggressive market positioning and pricing pressure expected in final rounds
- Leading Players: Kelun Pharmaceutical demonstrates dominant pipeline breadth with 18 product submissions, reinforcing its position as a volume-based procurement leader
- Emerging Challenger: Brilliant Pharmaceuticals closely follows with 17 filings, signaling strategic expansion into high-volume generic segments
- Patent Resolution: All 8 products subject to patent disputes have successfully cleared eligibility requirements, suggesting improved intellectual property frameworks within the procurement process
Industry Impact & Forward Outlook
- Price Pressure: Historical data from previous batches suggests winning bids typically achieve 50-90% price reductions from pre-procurement levels
- Market Consolidation: Intense competition is likely to accelerate industry consolidation, with smaller players potentially exiting unprofitable segments
- Quality Focus: Recent procurement rounds have emphasized quality standards alongside pricing, benefiting established manufacturers with robust quality management systems
- Revenue Implications: Winning companies secure guaranteed volumes covering approximately 80% of public hospital demand for selected products, providing revenue stability despite lower per-unit prices
The 12th batch continues China’s strategy of leveraging bulk purchasing power to reduce healthcare costs while maintaining drug quality and supply chain reliability. Final results are expected to be announced in late August 2026 following the competitive bidding process.
Forward-Looking Statements
This brief contains forward-looking statements regarding procurement outcomes, market dynamics, and competitive positioning. Actual results may differ due to bidding strategies, regulatory decisions, and market conditions.-Fineline Info & Tech