Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Access to innovative oncology treatments in China is often constrained by delayed inclusion on the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), resulting in substantial out-of-pocket (OOP) burden for patients. This study aimed to characterize access partnerships supporting non-public funding of oncology treatments in China and evaluate their role in bridging the access gap.
METHODS: This study analysed non-public funding partnerships of identifiable originator drugs, and their first-indication regulatory approval and NRDL reimbursement status. The period of analysis was limited to the past 10 years (i.e., 2015-2025) and only included cases where the partnership involved a pharmaceutical company and a minimum of one non-government stakeholder. Drug donation programs were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: We analyzed 20 access partnerships supporting the non-public funding of 17 oncology treatments, mainly targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Most partnerships were patient assistance programs (PAPs; 70%), with the remaining being private/commercial health insurance. In contrast to PAPs which mostly offer discounted goods, private/commercial health insurance has introduced innovative financing techniques leveraging real-world evidence, such as pay-for-performance coverage for palbociclib and an outcomes-based agreement for axicabtagene ciloleucel. Inclusion on the NRDL was often delayed, with 41% (7/17) of the oncology treatments receiving first-indication NRDL reimbursement more than two years after regulatory approval, and 17% (3/17) of treatments remaining unreimbursed. In contrast, PAPs were implemented within two years of first regulatory approval for 65% (11/17) of treatments, providing faster patient access to oncology treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: Access partnerships have emerged as key enablers of early access to innovative oncology treatments in China, especially in cases of delayed NRDL reimbursement. While traditional PAPs remain dominant, the introduction of innovative financing mechanisms in private/commercial health insurance signals a gradual evolution toward more sustainable and diversified access pathways.