China’s public payer perceives innovative drugs in a different way from that of the country’s top drug regulator, a former senior healthcare security official with knowledge of the matter reveals. The posture has unnerved pharma companies, which have been hit by sharp price discounts.

China’s public payer perceives innovative drugs in a different way from that of the country’s top drug regulator, a former senior healthcare security official with knowledge of the matter revealed during a recent industry event. The disclosure has unnerved pharma companies, which have been hit by sharp drug price discounts that were required by the public payer in exchange for reimbursement coverage.

New deal shows growing big pharma interest in protein degradation, with C4 expecting multiple in-house updates this year.

Six new breakthrough therapy designations have been announced, all for novel agents, but approvals were fewer and limited to new indications and formulations.