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China Refuses Paxlovid Coverage Beyond March, Despite Strong Demand

Local Production Planned

 
• By Brian Yang

China has rejected extending insurance coverage for Pfizer’s Paxlovid despite the US company's plans to continue supplying the oral COVID-19 antiviral, including through local manufacturing, amid strong demand and increasing severe infections in the country.

Paxlovid Pill
China rejects covering Paxlovid due to prices being 'too high' • Source: Shutterstock

Citing prices that authorities described as "too high," Beijing has refused to grant insurance coverage to the most sought-after drug in China beyond 31 March, despite surging COVID-19 infections following the country's effective reopening.

In the latest round of drug reimbursement discussions, initiated on 5 January, Pfizer Inc. was dealt a blow by the national public medical insurance payer after a pricing agreement...

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