Shanxi Adjusts Reference Procurement Prices for Listed Drugs from Novartis and Two Other Companies

On March 10, 2021, the Shanxi Provincial Drug and Medical Device Centralized Bidding and Procurement Center issued the “Notice on Adjusting the Reference Prices for the Online Procurement of Drugs Listed by Three Enterprises, Including Beijing Novartis Pharma Co., Ltd.” (Jin Yao Zhao [2021] No. 21).

Notice shows that, upon application by enterprises, the reference prices for online drug procurement of three companies, including Beijing Novartis Pharma Co., Ltd., have been adjusted as follows:

1. The reference procurement price for Valsartan Capsules (brand name: Diovan), manufactured by Beijing Novartis Pharma Co., Ltd. with a specification of 80 mg × 7 capsules/box, has been adjusted to RMB 24.52 per box; the reference procurement price for Vildagliptin Tablets (brand name: Galvus), bid by Beijing Novartis Pharma Co., Ltd. with a specification of 50 mg × 14 tablets/box, has been adjusted to RMB 47.6 per box.

2. The reference procurement price for Memantine Hydrochloride Oral Solution (120 ml: 240 mg), manufactured by the Zhongshan Branch of The United Laboratories International Holdings Ltd., has been adjusted to RMB 121.89 per bottle.

3. The reference procurement price for Dolutegravir Sodium Tablets (brand name: Tivicay), 50mg (calculated as dolutegravir) * 30 tablets/box, bid by Beijing Kyuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., has been adjusted to 980 yuan/box.

It is worth noting that,Valsartan Capsules andVildagliptin tablets are included in the third batch of China’s National Centralized Drug Procurement. Novartis, the originator, lost the bid; its recent voluntary price reduction may be attributed to the impact of this drug’s inclusion in the centralized procurement program.