仿制药上市越来越难了！不到一个月百款药物上市申请被拒

Core Viewpoint - The recent surge in drug notification letters from the National Medical Products Administration indicates a tightening of approval processes for generic drugs in China, with a significant increase in rejected or withdrawn applications in December compared to November [1][5]. Group 1: Drug Approval Trends - As of December 19, 2023, a total of 167 drug notification letters were issued, with 102 related to generic drug applications, marking a doubling in rejections or withdrawals compared to November [1]. - The therapeutic areas affected include cardiovascular, metabolic diseases, nervous system, respiratory, anti-infection, oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and digestive systems, with specific drugs like sacubitril/valsartan and sitagliptin/metformin among those impacted [1]. - Multiple manufacturers faced challenges with the same drug, such as the allergy treatment bilastine, which had six companies involved in unsuccessful applications [2]. Group 2: Reasons for Rejections - Some companies, like Jiutian Pharmaceutical, have publicly stated that their withdrawal was due to the need for further data refinement after discussions with the National Drug Review Center [3]. - Manufacturers of rejected generic drugs indicated that the primary issues were related to raw materials rather than the formulations themselves [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Changes - The approval process for generic drugs is tightening, as indicated by the recent drafts of guidelines from the National Medical Products Administration, which outline significant deficiencies in pharmaceutical research and bioequivalence studies [5][6]. - The new guidelines suggest that applications with major deficiencies will not be allowed to supplement their materials, leading to more rejections based on existing documentation [5]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - The Chinese generic drug market is facing increased competition, with a significant number of companies vying for approval of similar products, leading to market saturation [7]. - The report from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences indicates that by 2024, generic drugs will still account for 50% of the overall pharmaceutical market, with a notable increase in the number of approved generic varieties [7]. - The market concentration remains low, with the top ten companies holding around 22% of the market share, indicating ongoing challenges for profitability in the generic sector [7]. Group 5: Industry Insights - Industry experts have noted that the increasing number of generic drug projects, often with lower development costs compared to innovative drugs, contributes to market saturation and competition [8]. - Concerns about "internal competition" in the generic drug sector have prompted calls for regulatory adjustments to optimize the approval process and reduce unnecessary resource expenditure [8].