(Yicai Global) Sept. 20 -- China's anti-cancer drug market is set for a shake-up with the introduction of two players from the US that are ready to bring in cut-price products in the country.

US pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb has officially launched its PD-1 inhibitor anticancer drug Opdivo in China at prices much lower than those in other markets, Beijing Youth Daily reported. Fellow US firm Merck Sharp & Dohme also has plans to launch its own similar products at a discounted rate.

BMS is offering a "buy three, get six" deal on Opdivo priced at CNY9620 (USD 1404) per 100mg, which compares to CNY13,500 to CNY15,500 per 100ml for Opdivo imported from Germany and CNY18,000 per 50ml for the product in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Merck will introduce a similar deal for its own PD-1 inhibitor product known as Pabolizumab. The firm has recently received approvals to bring the drug to the Chinese market and is expected to price it at a similar level as Opdivo in the country.

The company aims to give patients a three-month supply of Pabolizumab for free after they have taken it for three months and confirmed it to be safe, effective and without obvious side effects.

Editor: William Clegg