Eli Lilly (LLY), Pfizer (PFE), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) secured spots on China’s first innovative drug catalog for private insurance, featuring 19 high-cost medicines for conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and rare genetic disorders, a Bloomberg report said, citing the National Healthcare Security Administration.
Eli Lilly’s (LLY) popular drug Mounjaro will be added to China’s state-run health insurance scheme from January 1 for patients with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro, a once-weekly injectable therapy, was launched in China in January this year. Mounjaro is also approved in China for obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.
While Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) Ozempic, a similar diabetes therapy, was first added to China’s reimbursement list in 2022.
Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Kisunla for Alzheimer’s treatment is on the list, alongside Eisai’s Leqembi. Pfizer (PFE), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) contributed cancer drugs; local firms like BeOne Medicines added CAR-T cell therapies, the report added.
The new catalog targets drugs expensive for state insurance, shifting burden to commercial plans via negotiated discounts of 15-50%, potentially boosting pharma margins in China’s aging market.