Domestic new crown oral drug｜Pfizer said that it produced Paxlovid in China in the first half of the year, but it was not included in the medical insurance because the price was too high CEO response: China is the second largest economy

Domestic new crown oral drug｜Pfizer said that it produced Paxlovid in China in the first half of the year, but it was not included in the medical insurance because the price was too high CEO response: China is the second largest economy

Since China abandoned its zero-clearing policy and opened up to the outside world last year, demand for new crown treatments, including Paxlovid, has surged. Pfizer (US: PFE) CEO Albert Bourla said at a health care conference on Monday that Pfizer is cooperating with companies in mainland China to produce and sell the new crown oral antiviral drug Paxlovide in the first half of this year. Paxlovid). But he did not name the partners.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that Paxlovid will be produced in China in the first half of the year.

However, the domestic media “Paper News” revealed that in August 2022, Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. signed the “Master Production and Supply Agreement” with Pfizer. Pfizer sells Paxlovid in the mainland China market and provides contract manufacturing services for preparations. The report quoted Huahai Pharmaceutical as saying that the company is currently cooperating with Pfizer to accelerate the work of Paxlovid’s localized production project to ensure sufficient supply of Paxlovid in the Chinese market and continue to meet the new crown treatment needs of Chinese patients.

Albert Bourla refuted rumors at the meeting that the company had not negotiated with the Mainland for the license to produce Paxlovid generics.

A few days ago, Pfizer Paxlovid failed to be included in the Chinese medical insurance list due to its high quotation. Albert Bourla responded that the negotiation broke down following China asked for a price lower than the company’s charges for most low- and middle-income countries. Albert Bourla further stated, “They are the second largest economy in the world, and I don’t think they should pay less than El Salvador.” But he said that although Paxlovid failed to be included in the medical insurance catalog and may only be sold to the private market in China in the end, this will not affect the company’s business in China.

At present, Paxlovid has entered community hospitals in some inland cities and is prescribed by doctors. The price for medical insurance is 1890 yuan/box (30 capsules in total). Albert Bourla said the company had shipped millions of courses of the drug to China in recent weeks.

The new crown oral antiviral drug Paxlovid will only be sold in the private market in the future.

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