Lilly, AstraZeneca and Three Other Pharma Companies Voluntarily Apply for Price Adjustments on Key Medicines

　　【Pharmaceutical Network | Industry Trends] On February 1, the Shanxi Provincial Drug and Medical Device Centralized Bidding and Procurement Center issued a “Notice on Adjusting the Reference Prices for Online-Listed Drug Procurement from Five Enterprises, Including Guangdong Zhonghao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). The Notice stated that, based on voluntary applications submitted by five pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Hansoh Pharmaceutical, the prices of drugs manufactured by these enterprises would be adjusted.
 

Specifically, the reference procurement price for Benvitimod Cream (10g:0.1g [1%]), manufactured by Guangdong Zhonghao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., has been adjusted to RMB 138 per tube. As a National Class I new drug, Benvitimod Cream was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List through the 2020 national medical insurance access negotiations, drawing significant attention from patients with psoriasis. Psoriasis is not merely a dermatological condition but a systemic disease. Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis are at increased risk of developing systemic comorbidities such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, Crohn's disease, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The current estimated number of psoriasis patients in China exceeds 7 million. While delivering breakthrough therapeutic efficacy for psoriasis patients, Benvitimod Cream will also serve as a major domestically developed original drug in topical psoriasis treatment that is affordable for patients.
 

The reference procurement price for Pegylated Loxenatide Injection (brand name: Fulai Mei), manufactured by Hansoh Pharmaceutical, with a specification of 0.5 mL: 0.2 mg, has been adjusted to RMB 187 per vial. Loxenatide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist independently developed by Hansoh Pharmaceutical for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, requiring only once-weekly injection.
 

Eli Lilly adjusted the prices of two products. The procurement reference price for dulaglutide injection (brand name: Trulicity), 1.5 mg/0.5 mL (pre-filled pen), which was included in the bidding process, was adjusted to RMB 149 per pen. The procurement reference price for baricitinib tablets (brand name: Olumiant), 2 mg × 28 tablets/box, was adjusted to RMB 1,064 per box. Dulaglutide injection, Eli Lilly’s diabetes treatment medication, had previously been officially included in the 2020 National Reimbursement Drug List. In January 2021, the company completed adjustments to its national ex-factory prices and updated the listed prices in 26 provinces. Baricitinib tablets are a targeted therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and have also been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List.
 

AstraZeneca also saw price reductions for two of its products: the procurement reference price for ticagrelor tablets (brand name: Brilinta), 90mg*14 tablets/box, submitted for tender, was adjusted to RMB 94.64 per box; the procurement reference prices for omeprazole magnesium enteric-coated tablets (brand name: Losec MUPS) in specifications of 10mg*7 tablets/box, 20mg*7 tablets/box, and 20mg*14 tablets/box were adjusted to RMB 30.55, RMB 51.93, and RMB 101.26 per box, respectively. The former is an antiplatelet agent; the latter belongs to the new generation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) formulations, primarily indicated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication, and the prevention and treatment of ulcers associated with long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
 

In addition, the reference procurement prices for palbociclib capsules (brand name: Ibrance) in Guangdong Province’s pharmaceutical tendering process—specifically for the specifications of 75 mg × 21 capsules/bottle, 100 mg × 21 capsules/bottle, and 125 mg × 21 capsules/bottle—have been adjusted to RMB 9,244/bottle, RMB 11,521/bottle, and RMB 13,667/bottle, respectively.
 

Notably, among the products listed in this public announcement, with the exception of the palbociclib capsules submitted for bidding, which were not included in the 2020 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), all remaining drugs were covered by the 2020 NRDL. It is reported that the indication for palbociclib capsules is first-line combination therapy with an aromatase inhibitor for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.