Fosun Kite Launches Real-World Pharmacoeconomic Study to Enhance Access to Innovative CAR-T Therapy

(Source: Shanghai Observation News)

Recently, Fosun Kite announced the official launch of the “Heal with Ease, Progress Together — Real-World Pharmacoeconomic Exploration Project of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel Injection” in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The project actively responds to the spirit of State Council Decree 818, taking the lead in exploring an innovative payment model combining惠民保/ commercial insurance with pay-for-performance. It aims to address the accessibility challenges of high-value cell therapy drugs and provide real-world evidence support for the construction of a multi-level medical security system for innovative drugs.

Currently, the payment reform for innovative drugs is ushering in a historic window of opportunity. In September 2025, the National Healthcare Security Administration issued relevant notices, clarifying the path and timeline for the comprehensive value evaluation of real-world healthcare security, laying a institutional foundation for the value assessment and diversified payment of innovative drugs; the first edition of the commercial insurance innovative drug catalog was launched in December 2025 and officially implemented in January 2026.

In early 2026, the National Healthcare Security Administration, in collaboration with 79 top-tier hospitals in China, established a credible evaluation network for real-world research on healthcare security. This marks the substantial advancement of value assessment in the three major fields of medicine, healthcare security, and pharmaceuticals. Current efforts are systematically advancing around data standardization, methodological innovation, and evidence transformation. Future outcomes will provide support for optimizing medical services and the efficient use of funds, while also bringing new opportunities for big data to empower healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

CAR-T Cell Therapy, as a key focus area in the innovative drug catalog, has garnered significant attention for its real-world clinical value and payment innovations. All parties are committed to benefiting patients by improving the multi-layered medical security system. The issuance of State Council Decree 818 further accelerates the development of the cell therapy industry and enhances patient access to medications through top-level design.

Against this backdrop, Fosun Kite Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has actively responded to policy calls by taking the lead in launching the “Heal with Yescarta, Heal Together” project. Supported by real-world research and defining payment responsibilities based on clinical outcomes, the project provides a replicable model for diversified CAR-T payment solutions. Professor Zhao Weili from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, stated: “While CAR-T therapy is encountering development opportunities, it also faces challenges such as clinical standardization, value verification, and payment implementation. Continuous efforts in technology advancement and interdisciplinary collaboration are required to make cutting-edge treatments accessible to more lymphoma patients.”

In the project design, patients will undergo PET-CT efficacy evaluation after 3 months (90 days ± 10 days) of treatment. Non-complete response (non-CR) patients can receive "payment based on efficacy," significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Among the participants of Tianjin Huimin Insurance, healthy non-CR patients can achieve zero out-of-pocket costs, while those with pre-existing conditions will see their out-of-pocket expenses reduced to 200,000 yuan. Patients in Beijing and Shanghai also have differentiated payment plans, effectively alleviating financial concerns.

This project represents an important step for Fosun Kite in advancing the field of cell therapy. In 2021, Yikai Da received approval for marketing in China, achieving a breakthrough from "0" to "1" in China’s CAR-T treatment. This study will fill the gap in pharmacoeconomic evidence for CAR-T therapies, providing scientific support for industrial development, exploring replicable models for diversified payment of high-value drugs, and promoting high-quality growth of the innovative drug industry alongside the construction of a nationwide healthcare security system in China.

Original Title: "Tackling the Accessibility Challenge of Innovative Drugs, Fosun Kite Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Takes the Lead in Launching a Real-World Pharmacoeconomic Exploration Project"

Column Editor: Wang Lei

Source: Author: Xinmin Evening News, Zuo Yan