(Yicai Global) Dec. 3 -- Another 74 medicines were included in the latest round of China’s centralized drug procurement scheme, which ensures distribution through the country’s vast medical insurance program, the National Healthcare Security Administration of China said today.

Some 67 of these newly listed drugs had their prices slashed by an average of 61.7 percent, a new record, it said. Previously the average discount had been around 50 percent. The other seven medicines are for rare diseases that are normally prohibitively priced. Their new pricing has not yet been released.

The bulk buy scheme aims to cut the cost of generic and patented medicines and apparatus through economy-of-scale buying, the NHSA said. For instance, the cancer drug Daratumumab, whose yearly treatment costs can come to CNY1 million (USD157,000) per year, has been slashed to under CNY300,000.

The inclusion of more innovative drugs for rare diseases reflects the country’s concern and support for rare disease patients and their families, said Shan Guohong, president of Japanese pharma firm Takeda’s China division, which makes one of the new drugs on the list, Replagal.

Replagal, an agalsidase alfa concentrate for the rare genetic condition Fabry disease, can cost CNY1 million for a year’s treatment. Another of the new inclusions, Nosinassen Sodium, a medicine used to treat spinal muscular atrophy, usually costs CNY700,000 (USD109,900) per jab.

From January 2022, there will be 2,860 medicines on the list.

Editor: Kim Taylor