Chinanews Client Beijing, August 24th (Reporter Zhang Ni) Recently, the third batch of centralized drug purchases organized by countries with a procurement scale of tens of billions produced the results of the proposed selection, and the publicity time ended on the 23rd.
This time, many celebrity drugs have given out "off-the-house prices", allowing patients to see the real benefits. At the same time, domestic pharmaceutical companies are also actively surviving against the backdrop of repeated pressure on profit margins.
Data map: Zhejiang Anji automatic medicine dispenser "on duty" photo by Yu Danfei
The third batch of medicine is here! The hypoglycemic drugs fell to less than a dime per tablet
Recently, the third batch of countries organized centralized drug procurement and produced the results of the proposed selection.
According to reports, a total of 189 companies participated in this procurement, resulting in 125 companies to be selected and 191 products to be selected. The average price of the products to be selected was reduced by 53%, with the highest drop of 95%.
From the perspective of the types of drugs, it is planned to include 56 varieties, involving more than 300 product regulations, and the types of diseases to be treated involve malignant tumors, hypertension, diabetes, and mental diseases.
Compared with the second batch of national centralized procurement, the third batch of procurement rules has also been fine-tuned and optimized, and the maximum number of companies that can be selected has further increased from the original 6 to 8.
According to the "Announcement of the Results of the Proposed Selection of National Drug Centralized Procurement" announced on the 20th, a total of 55 products were successfully purchased in this centralized procurement, and the number of drug varieties was close to the sum of the previous two batches.
In addition to the number of medicines far exceeding the first two batches of centralized procurement, the low price of the proposed medicines also caused concern.
Take metformin, a commonly used diabetes drug, as an example. In this collection, Chongqing Kerui Pharmaceutical reported a price of 0.015 yuan/tablet for metformin tablets 0.25g, which was the lowest price per tablet, with a drop of more than 90%.
For the majority of patients, this undoubtedly brings real benefits.
Hu Shanlian, a professor at the School of Public Health of Fudan University, commented in an interview with the media that in the third national centralized procurement, 55 drugs won the bid, which will increase the concentration of pharmaceutical companies in the future, regulate the circulation of drugs, establish payment standards for medical insurance drugs, and improve hospitals. The medication list has played a significant role in improving the availability of medications for patients and reducing medical expenses.
Data map: A doctor is introducing medicines to patients. Photo by Wang Yiping
Multinational pharmaceutical companies "great retreat" Domestic pharmaceutical companies enter the "price fight"
In the past, the original research drugs of many multinational pharmaceutical companies have dominated the domestic market. In the previous two batches of centralized procurement, the decline in drug prices of foreign companies has always been highly concerned.
However, in this centralized procurement, multinational pharmaceutical companies have experienced a collective "great retreat", and many companies have "out of the game."
Judging from the results of public announcements, in terms of foreign investment, only Eisai’s mecobalamin tablets, Ushibi’s levetiracetam injection concentrated solution, and Pfizer’s linezolid tablets have won the bid.
Taking Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride and Sodium Chloride Injection as an example, according to data from Wind Medical Library, the domestic sample hospital sales of Moxifloxacin Sodium Chloride Injection in 2019 were 913 million yuan, and Bayer's sales revenue as the original research pharmaceutical company accounted for approximately 96.08%.
However, in this centralized procurement, the Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride and Sodium Chloride Injection was won by Tianjin Hongri Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Hunan Aike Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Bayer, the original research pharmaceutical company, was eliminated. Among them, Tianjin Red Sun and Hainan AGCO respectively quoted 32.8 yuan and 35.27 yuan.
"For the brand-name drugs originally developed, they can't afford the domestically-produced prices, because they generally fall to 70% and 80%. Even if they are sold, the number may be large, but there is no profit." Fu Gang, vice chairman of the business association and chairman of Baiyang Pharmaceutical Group, analyzed in an interview with reporters.
In contrast to foreign-funded pharmaceutical companies, although domestic pharmaceutical companies have an absolute advantage, they have also entered a "price fight".
In this collection, 29 companies have reviewed the oral regular-release dosage form of metformin (0.25g, 0.5g), and 17 companies have reviewed the controlled-release metformin dosage form (0.5g). The competition is fierce and beyond imagination. .
According to the announced results of the proposed selection, only metformin hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (0.5g) have won the bids of 8 companies including Tianfang Pharmaceutical, Beijing Wanhui Shuanghe Pharmaceutical, and CSPC.
Among them, Beijing Wanhui Shuanghe Pharmaceutical's product is planned to be selected for a price of only 0.78 yuan, with an average single-chip price of less than 1 cent. The supply provinces cover Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, and Hunan.
Data map: The vending machine appeared on Hezuo Road, Hezuo Street, West District of Chengdu High-tech Zone. Photo by An Yuan
Three rounds of centralized procurement, the pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a reshuffle
Since the "4+7" pilot cities started mass procurement of drugs in December 2018, pharmaceutical companies have experienced three rounds of "baptism".
In January this year, the National Medical Insurance Bureau and other five departments issued the "Notice" clarifying that the second batch of countries will no longer select certain regions for the centralized procurement and use of drugs. The provinces and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will form a procurement alliance. All public medical institutions and military medical institutions participate.
In addition, the above-mentioned "Notice" also mentioned that medical insurance designated social medical institutions and medical insurance designated retail pharmacies can participate voluntarily.
Subsequently, the local upgraded version of the volume procurement has also been released.
For example, recently, the Shanghai Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau and the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission jointly issued the "Opinions" to encourage public medical institutions to carry out centralized bargaining purchases of drugs with quantity and budget on the basis of adhering to quality priority, ensuring dosage, and guaranteeing payment. , Give priority to choosing drugs that are not included in the country and the city’s mass procurement, especially drugs with abnormal prices (such as those whose prices are significantly higher than other brands of the same variety or whose prices have risen significantly), and self-paid drugs.
From the perspective of the industry, the expansion of centralized drug procurement also means that for domestic pharmaceutical companies, competition will become more intense. The "good day" for domestic generic drugs to lie down to make money is over, and it seems to be better than everyone else. The expectations are even faster.
Fu Gang said that in the past, many pharmaceutical companies, whether foreign companies or domestic companies, sometimes developed a new drug by one company, which could recruit a marketing team of two to three thousand people. Sales expenses account for too high a proportion.
Obviously, this mode of operation can no longer adapt to the new market environment.
Data map: A pharmaceutical company's automated production line is producing proprietary Chinese medicines. Photo by Liu Xuemei
Survival and symbiosis, where is the way out for pharmaceutical companies?
Undoubtedly, China's pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a transformation, and in the face of industry changes and the possible reshuffle effects, where is the future for pharmaceutical companies?
Innovation is of course the unchanging law for seeking new advantages.
Take Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, which has won the bid for many drugs this time, as an example. In recent years, the investment in research and development of enterprises has been increasing.
According to its 2019 annual report data, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals has invested 3.896 billion yuan in R&D in 2019, an increase of 45.90% year-on-year, and R&D investment accounted for 16.73% of sales revenue.
For most of the unselected companies, in addition to accelerating innovation, the top priority is to move to the outside market. However, how so many branded products continue to release value in the retail market is also a dilemma that pharmaceutical companies urgently need to solve.
The industry environment forces companies to reform their marketing models. Fu Gang cites the "commercialization platform" built by Baiyang Pharmaceuticals. The "commercialization platform" uses omni-channel management, multi-category collaboration and digital marketing to deeply link medical institutions, retail companies and industrial companies, optimize marketing costs, and improve marketing. Efficiency and standardization.
"The cost of building a national sales team by a single pharmaceutical company in the out-of-hospital market is too high, and this kind of commercial platform company is like a highway. The products of a pharmaceutical company are like a car. The more cars on the road, the lower the cost. "
Fu Gang said that it is no longer realistic for pharmaceutical companies to fight on their own, relying on a few products to support thousands or even tens of thousands of national marketing teams. Industrial companies should regard all downstream customers as key links in their own value chain. Actively cooperate and seek symbiosis and win-win. (Finish)