Pfizer Seeks to Boost Sales in China's Private Insurance Catalog

Pfizer, along with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, is seeking to boost sales in China by trying to get their treatments included in Beijing's new catalog for commercial health insurance. A total of 121 drugs, including blockbuster medicines and treatments for rare diseases, have cleared the initial screening for the catalog.

Western pharmaceutical giants, including Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, are actively pursuing inclusion in Beijing's new commercial health insurance catalog. This move aims to expand access to innovative and expensive medicines in China's rapidly growing pharmaceutical market. A total of 121 drugs have cleared the initial screening, with final decisions expected by October or November [1].

The commercial catalog lists innovative and expensive medicines, including treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cancer. This catalog represents a significant opportunity for drugmakers to expand their reach in China. These drugs, which are too expensive for state insurance but recommended for reimbursement by private health insurers, could significantly boost sales for multinational companies [1].

The inclusion of these drugs in the catalog is part of a broader strategy by Beijing to increase coverage of innovative medicines through both state and commercial health insurance schemes. Traditionally, drug companies had to offer steep discounts in exchange for a place on the national drug reimbursement list. The commercial catalog offers a new pathway, allowing these drugs to be reimbursed at a smaller discount, thereby opening up a larger market for multinational companies [1].

This move is part of a broader trend in China to reform the drug pricing system and better reward medical innovation. Commercial health insurance, which currently makes up a fraction of China's drug spending, could grow into a more significant pillar of the country's total health expenditure, driving both revenue and accessibility of innovative drugs [1].

However, this expansion comes amid ongoing legal challenges. A federal appeals court recently revived a class action lawsuit accusing Sanofi, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and AstraZeneca of conspiring to restrict discounts under the Section 340B Drug Discount Program, which provides discounted drugs to safety-net hospitals and clinics serving low-income patients [2]. This lawsuit highlights the complex landscape of drug pricing and reimbursement in the United States and the potential for regulatory challenges to impact market dynamics.

In conclusion, the inclusion of innovative and expensive medicines in China's commercial health insurance catalog represents a significant opportunity for Western drugmakers. This move, part of a broader effort to balance affordability with innovation, could drive revenue and accessibility of these drugs in China. However, it also highlights the ongoing regulatory challenges and complexities in the global drug pricing landscape.

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/western-drugmakers-seek-entry-china-private-insurance-catalog-2508/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-12/eli-lilly-pfizer-seek-spot-in-china-private-insurance-catalog