The China Insurance Association, under the National Financial Regulatory Administration, has completed preliminary drug selection for its commercial insurance drug list, which is pending release. The list differs from the NHSA's commercial insurance innovative drug list and is for pure commercial health insurance. In 2026, the NHSA will expand its innovative drug list for the first time, requiring drugs with strong insurance suitability. Submissions for the NHSA list in 2026 are less than half of 2025. The first NHSA list faced challenges in Huiminbao products, including incomplete discount channels. Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab entered national medical insurance in 2026 and are in multiple Huiminbao products. The China Insurance Association is also developing a drug guarantee list to standardize commercial insurance drug lists.
The 12th round of China's national volume-based drug procurement opened on July 31 in Shanghai, covering 65 commonly used clinical varieties across hypertension, diabetes, oncology, transplant anti-rejection, and anti-infection areas, making it the largest batch since the program began. A total of 495 companies submitted 859 product bids. The round introduced a 'zero-volume award' mechanism to curb extreme low pricing, and extended the contract period to three years. Over 45,000 medical institutions submitted procurement demand volumes.
Argenx announced on July 27, 2026, an all-cash acquisition of Forte Biosciences for approximately $2.2 billion, or $77 per share, a 40.5% premium over the prior close. The deal, Argenx's first since its Nasdaq listing, targets FB102, an anti-CD122 antibody modulating IL-12/IL-15 signaling. Phase 1b data for FB102 showed statistically significant benefits in celiac disease and vitiligo, with no serious adverse events.