政策“及时雨”！十六条举措助力中国创新药加速跑

Core Insights - The article highlights the acceleration of innovative drug development in China, supported by recent policy measures aimed at enhancing the accessibility and affordability of these drugs for the public [1][4][6] Group 1: Policy Support for Innovative Drugs - Since 2018, the National Medical Insurance Drug List has included a total of 149 innovative drugs, with over 30% of the drugs added in 2024 being newly approved that year [1] - The new measures introduced by the National Healthcare Security Administration and the National Health Commission include 16 initiatives designed to invigorate the innovative drug sector [1][4] - The number of first-class innovative drugs approved in 2024 reached 48, more than five times the number in 2018, indicating a significant increase in innovation [3] Group 2: Addressing Challenges in Drug Development - Some innovative drugs face issues such as homogenization and insufficient clinical value, prompting the new measures to utilize medical insurance data to guide drug development [4] - The measures focus on key areas such as major infectious diseases, pediatric medications, and rare diseases, aiming to direct research efforts effectively [4] Group 3: Enhancing Accessibility and Affordability - The measures emphasize improving the multi-channel payment capabilities for innovative drugs, encouraging commercial health insurance and charitable donations to support access for underprivileged populations [4][5] - By May 2025, the medical insurance fund is expected to pay a cumulative total of 410 billion yuan for negotiated drugs, driving related drug sales over 600 billion yuan [5] - The commercial health insurance market is rapidly growing, with premium income reaching 977.3 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 8.2% [5] Group 4: Streamlining Drug Availability - The measures aim to expedite the entry of innovative drugs into designated medical institutions, ensuring that patients can access these medications promptly [5][6] - Medical institutions are encouraged to hold pharmacy meetings to adjust drug inventories based on clinical needs, without being restricted by existing drug lists [5][6] Group 5: International Expansion of Chinese Innovative Drugs - In 2024, Chinese pharmaceutical companies completed over 90 overseas licensing transactions, totaling more than 50 billion US dollars, indicating a strong international presence [6] - The establishment of convenient cross-border drug purchasing channels is expected to further support the global reach of Chinese innovative drugs [6]