Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Medical Products Administration have announced the list of selected units for the second batch of the innovative task for biomedical materials, highlighting Jiangsu's leading position in this field with 20 projects selected, the highest in the country [1] Group 1: Project Overview - The biomedical materials innovation task aims to address critical technological challenges in the field and select the most capable innovators for focused breakthroughs in high-end medical materials [1] - Jiangsu's selected projects cover 14 categories of biomedical materials across three directions: inorganic non-metallic materials, polymer materials, and metal materials [1] Group 2: Application and Market Potential - These biomedical materials are widely used in high-value medical devices such as artificial joints, vascular stents, artificial bone repair, oral repair, and wound repair, indicating significant clinical application value and market promotion potential [1] - The increase in the number of applications and selections from Jiangsu compared to the previous round demonstrates substantial growth and potential for new growth points in the integration of new material clusters and biomedicine clusters [1] Group 3: Support and Development - Selected enterprises will receive policy support in financing, review, and registration after completing their tasks, which will accelerate the market launch process of biomedical materials and medical device products in Jiangsu [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese vascular stent market is experiencing a decline in imports due to the accelerated replacement by domestic high-end products and the deepening of centralized procurement policies, while exports are growing significantly as domestic technologies mature [1][12]. Industry Overview - Vascular stents are medical devices implanted in blood vessels to treat conditions like stenosis and aneurysms, playing a crucial role in interventional therapy for cardiovascular diseases [2]. - The industry has evolved through four main stages: reliance on imports, the onset of domestic production, rapid development with drug-eluting stents, and a current phase focused on technological innovation [4][5][6]. Current Industry Status - In the first five months of 2025, China imported 914,000 vascular stents, a year-on-year decrease of 38.18%, with an import value of 1.154 billion yuan, down 18.70% [12]. - Exports during the same period reached 288,900 units, a 30.09% increase, with an export value of 243 million yuan, up 24.03% [12]. - The decline in imports is attributed to the rise of domestic products like MicroPort's Firesorb® bioabsorbable stent and the impact of centralized procurement policies [12]. Industry Development Trends 1. **Technological Innovation and Material Upgrades** - The industry is witnessing a shift towards bioabsorbable materials and smart technologies, with products like MicroPort's Firesorb® stent demonstrating significant advancements [22]. - The introduction of nanotechnology in drug-eluting stents enhances precision in drug delivery, improving clinical outcomes [22]. 2. **Growing Market Demand and Structural Optimization** - The burden of cardiovascular diseases is increasing, with 330 million patients in China, driving demand for vascular stents [24]. - The market is diversifying, with a notable rise in demand for peripheral vascular stents due to related health issues [24]. 3. **Policy Drivers and Competitive Landscape Restructuring** - National policies, including centralized procurement, are enhancing the competitiveness of domestic stents [25]. - Local companies like MicroPort and Lepu Medical are gaining market share from foreign brands through technological advancements and cost advantages [25].

Core Insights - The reliance on imported high-value medical consumables in China is decreasing as domestic brands emerge in critical areas such as intracranial aneurysm embolization devices, cardiac sutures, heart valves, artificial blood vessels, and ECMO consumables [1][4] - In the first half of this year, China approved 45 innovative medical device products, and the results of centralized procurement for peripheral vascular stents have been implemented in multiple provinces [1][2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The fifth batch of centralized procurement results shows that 18 companies, including both multinational and domestic firms, have been selected, with prices for stents dropping by over 80% [2][3] - The exit of Gore from the procurement process has led to supply shortages for its self-expanding covered peripheral vascular stent, VIABHAN, which was previously the only option for small vessels [2][3] - The demand for peripheral vascular implants is significant, with 200,000 to 300,000 patients treated annually, yet domestic products currently hold less than 10% of the procurement share [3] Group 2: Challenges in Domestic Production - Domestic manufacturers are developing products to compete with Gore's stent, but face challenges in material quality and production processes [4][5] - The production of small vascular covered stents is particularly challenging due to stringent requirements for flexibility, support, and leakage prevention [3][4] - The heart suture market remains dominated by imports, with no domestic alternatives currently available for critical applications [6][7] Group 3: Clinical Implications - The shortage of small vascular covered stents has forced clinicians to seek temporary procurement solutions, which can take one to two weeks [3] - In pediatric cardiac care, the lack of suitable domestic devices leads to reliance on adult products, creating operational delays [7][8] - The mechanical valve market in China is largely unaddressed by domestic manufacturers, with only a few multinational companies providing these products [7][8] Group 4: Future Outlook - The potential for supply shortages in specific medical device areas exists if domestic solutions are not developed in time [9] - The market for interventional valves is attractive due to shorter development cycles and higher profit margins, which may incentivize domestic companies to invest [8]