AstraZeneca Kicked Off Day Three of China's National Reimbursement Drug Negotiations with Key Oncology Candidates

On November 19, the 2023 National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) negotiation officially entered its third day. According to the China Securities Journal, Huang Bin, Vice President of AstraZeneca China, as the first corporate representative "named" on the third day, was guided by NHSA staff into a negotiation room on the second floor. A total of four companies entered the negotiations in the first batch. Notably, Huang Bin also appeared at the NHSA negotiation site yesterday morning. AstraZeneca has a relatively large number of products that passed the NHSA format review this year, including not only new products outside the catalog participating for the first time, such as DS8201 Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for injection, Acalabrutinib Capsules, and Eculizumab Injection, but also several products requiring renewal or indication expansion, such as Osimertinib Mesylate Tablets and Olaparib Tablets. Among them, DS8201 is a highly anticipated ADC "wonder drug." There are reports that cancer drugs may be the focus of today’s negotiations, with DS8201 Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for injection potentially being negotiated today. (China Securities Journal)