Top 10 Best-Selling Products in the 9th Round of China's National Pharmaceutical Volume-Based Procurement Announced with Competitive Landscape

Recently, the official document for the ninth batch of centralized procurement was released, with the bidding taking place in Shanghai on November 6. Varieties with large market scale and sufficient competition have always been the focus of centralized procurement. The top 10 varieties by sales volume in the ninth batch had a combined market size exceeding 17 billion yuan in China’s public medical institutions in 2022, including two varieties surpassing 3 billion yuan each. These encompass best-selling products such as anesthetics, oral PPI inhibitors, and globally significant $10 billion blockbuster drugs. In terms of companies with approved products, CHIATAI TIANQING has four varieties listed, followed closely by Cisen Pharmaceutical and Hansoh Pharma with three varieties each. CSPC, Qilu Pharmaceutical, BRILLIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, Huadong Medicine, CR PHARMA COMM, and China National Medicines Corporation Ltd. each have two varieties included.

 

Top 10 Products by Sales Volume in the Ninth Batch of Centralized Procurement

Note: Sales are calculated based on generic drug names, regardless of specifications.

 

In terms of dosage forms, 7 out of 10 varieties are injectables, and 3 are oral immediate-release formulations; in terms of therapeutic categories, there are 3 drugs for the digestive system and metabolism, as well as drugs for the nervous system and anti-TumorThere are two immunomodulators, one drug each for the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, systemic anti-infective drugs, and systemic hormone preparations (excluding sex hormones and insulin).

 

　　01、"Sales Champion of the 9th Batch Centralized Procurement" Jichuan Dominant Market

 

Before the inclusion of rabeprazole oral conventional release formulations, seven PPI inhibitors had already been included in the national procurement in China. These are omeprazole oral conventional release formulations and injections, esomeprazole (esomeprazole) oral conventional release formulations and injections, pantoprazole oral conventional release formulations and injections, and lansoprazole injections.

 

Affected by the epidemic and the implementation of centralized procurement, PPI inhibitors have recently seen changes in China's urban public healthcare sector.HospitalThe sales scale of terminals in county-level public hospitals, urban community centers, and township health centers (referred to as Chinese public medical institutions) has been declining year by year, from 36 billion yuan in 2019 to 17 billion yuan in 2022.

 

Rabeprazole oral conventional release formulations are the largest-scale product among the 42 varieties in the ninth batch of centralized procurement, with sales exceeding 3.8 billion yuan in Chinese public medical institution terminals in 2022. In the ranking of oral proton pump inhibitor products, Rabeprazole Sodium Enteric-Coated Capsules and Rabeprazole Sodium Enteric-Coated Tablets ranked first and second, respectively.

 

Sales of Rabeprazole Oral Immediate-Release Formulations in Chinese Public Medical Institutions in Recent Years

 

In terms of the manufacturer landscape, Jichuan Pharmaceutical (already approved) holds a dominant position with a market share exceeding 40%; the original research manufacturer, Eisai, follows closely with a market share of approximately 16%; Zhuhai Rundu Pharmaceutical (already approved) ranks third with a market share of over 10%; Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical (already approved) and Chengdu Dikang Pharmaceutical (already approved) are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, each with a market share exceeding 6%.

 

Data shows that currently, 10 companies' rabeprazole oral conventional release formulations have passed the evaluation or are deemed to have passed, among which Jiangxi Shanxiang Pharmaceutical, Hunan Jiudian Pharmaceutical, CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical, and Ambisun Pharmaceutical have all received new product approvals. Additionally, six other companies have submitted supplementary applications or are in the review process under a new classification, indicating relatively intense competition.

 

The maximum effective bid price for 10mg and 20mg rabeprazole oral conventional release formulations is 0.76 yuan per capsule (tablet) and 1.3 yuan per capsule (tablet). According to the current lowest winning bid (listed) price in China, the prices for 10mg and 20mg rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated capsules are 1.14 yuan per capsule and 1.94 yuan per capsule, while the prices for 10mg and 20mg rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets are 0.38 yuan per tablet and 0.82 yuan per tablet.

 

Rabeprazole Oral Immediate-Release Formulations: Bidding (Online Listing) Situation in China (Unit: Yuan)

 

　　02、Best-Selling Anesthetic Generics Have Large Space to Replace Original Research Products

 

Propofol is a rapidly acting, short-acting general anesthetic. Currently, there are fewer anesthetics included in the centralized procurement; only four varieties have been incorporated in the previous seven batches and eight rounds of chemical drug procurements, and their impact on the market has yet to be reflected. Data shows that in recent years, the market for anesthetics in China’s public medical institutions has fluctuated, with sales exceeding 18 billion yuan in 2022.

 

In the ranking of anesthetic products, Propofol Injectable Emulsion has ranked first for many years consecutively, with sales consistently remaining above 3 billion yuan. From the perspective of manufacturer competition, Aspen and Fresenius Kabi rank first and second, respectively, collectively holding over 60% of the market share. Xi'an Libang Pharmaceutical (already passed evaluation) ranks third with approximately 20% market share, while Sichuan Guorui Pharmaceutical (already passed evaluation) ranks fourth with about 11% market share. The original research manufacturers hold a significant market share, but evaluated generic drugs have the potential to replace them through centralized procurement.

 

Sales of Propofol Emulsion Injection in Chinese Public Medical Institutions in Recent Years

 

Currently, six companies' propofol emulsion injections have passed the evaluation/been deemed to pass the evaluation. Among them, the products of Jiangsu Yingke Biotechnology and Cisen Pharmaceutical were approved for production at the end of 2022 and in 2023, respectively.

 

The maximum effective bidding prices for Propofol Injectable Emulsion in the following specifications are higher than the current lowest winning bid (listed) prices in China: 10ml:0.1g at 11.52 yuan/vial, 10ml:0.2g at 19.59 yuan/vial, 20ml:0.2g at 19.59 yuan/vial, 50ml:0.5g at 39.51 yuan/vial, and 50ml:1g at 67.16 yuan/vial.

 

Propofol Injectable Emulsion Bidding (Listing) Status in China (Unit: Yuan)

 

　　03、Included in centralized procurement for the first time A Market of 2.5 Billion is About to Make Waves

 

Urapidil is a highly selective α receptor blocker with dual central and peripheral antihypertensive effects, and its primary clinical administration route is via injection. Prior to the use of urapidil injections, there were no specific agents dedicated to...HypertensionDrugs Included in Centralized Procurement. In recent years, the sales scale of antihypertensive drugs exclusively used in public medical institutions in China has been increasing year by year, exceeding 2.5 billion yuan in 2022, with a year-on-year growth of 12.6%.

 

Currently, the main types of urapidil injections approved for marketing in China include Urapidil Hydrochloride Injection, Injectable Urapidil Hydrochloride, and Urapidil Sodium Chloride Injection. Data shows that in 2022, the sales revenue of urapidil injections in Chinese public medical institutions terminals approached 1.5 billion yuan. In the ranking of products specifically used for antihypertensive drugs, Urapidil Hydrochloride Injection has consistently ranked first for many years.

 

Sales of Urapidil Injection in Chinese Public Medical Institutions in Recent Years

 

From the perspective of the manufacturer landscape, Takeda, the original research manufacturer, accounts for nearly "half of the market"; Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical (already approved) and Xi'an Lijun Pharmaceutical (already approved) rank second and third, with market shares exceeding 18% and 11%, respectively; Hebei Yipin Pharmaceutical (already approved) ranks fourth with a market share of approximately 9%.

 

Currently, seven companies' Urapidil injections have passed the evaluation/been deemed to pass the evaluation. Among them, the products from Jiangxi Qingfeng Pharmaceutical, Shijiazhuang Fourth Pharmaceutical, and Jinzhou Aohong Pharmaceutical were all approved for production in 2023. The highest effective bidding prices for 5ml:25mg and 10ml:50mg Urapidil injections are 12.44 yuan/vial and 21.15 yuan/vial, respectively, which are higher than the current lowest winning bid (listed) prices in China.

 

National Bidding (Listing) Status of Urapidil Injection in China (Unit: Yuan)

 

　　04、$10 Billion Blockbuster Drug Nine Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies Receive "Pass"

 

Lenalidomide, a synthetic derivative of glutamic acid, has anti-angiogenic and immunomodulatory effects and has become the first-line targeted therapy for multiple myeloma. The original lenalidomide has ranked among the world's best-selling drugs for many consecutive years since its launch, reaching a sales peak of $12.821 billion in 2021. In 2022, due to the impact of generic drugs, sales fell by 22% year-on-year to $9.978 billion.

 

Before the inclusion of lenalidomide capsules, two immunosuppressants had already been included in the centralized procurement: mycophenolate mofetil oral conventional release formulation and leflunomide oral conventional release formulation. Data from MiNe Network shows that in recent years, the market size of immunosuppressants in China's public medical institutions has been increasing annually, with a double-digit annual growth rate. In 2022, their sales reached nearly 24 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.5%.

 

As more and more generic drugs have been approved for marketing, the sales volume of lenalidomide capsules in China's public medical institutions has increased significantly in recent years. Sales reached nearly 1 billion yuan in 2020 and exceeded 1.2 billion yuan in 2022. In terms of the competitive landscape among manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chia Tai Tianqing Nanjing Shunxin Pharmaceutical (already passed the quality evaluation), and Celgene rank in the top three, with market shares exceeding 36%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. Qilu Pharmaceutical (already passed the quality evaluation) ranks fourth with a market share of approximately 12%.

 

Sales of Lenalidomide Capsules in Chinese Public Medical Institutions in Recent Years

 

Currently, there are 10 companiesEnterpriseThe lenalidomide capsules from nine groups have passed the evaluation/equivalent to passing the evaluation. Among them, the products of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in India, CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical, and other enterprises were approved for production after Q4 2022. The highest effective bidding prices for 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, and 25mg lenalidomide capsules are approximately 34.93 yuan/pill, 59.38 yuan/pill, 81 yuan/pill, and 119.76 yuan/pill, respectively.

 

　　Source：MENET Database、Shanghai Sunshine Pharmaceutical Procurement Network, etc.