H1 2022: Top 12 China Generic Drug Approval Winners

Jul. 14th, 2022
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In the first half of 2022, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved 210 domestically-manufactured generic drugs for marketing authorization.

Overview of the Top 12 Companies


Yangtze River Pharmaceutical is the biggest winner, owning 14 approved generic drugs, followed by Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical and Beite Pharmaceutical with 11 approved generics respectively. Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceutical takes the fourth and fifth places with 9 generic products and CSPC Pharmaceutical with 8 generics.

Ranking Company Approved Generic Drugs Approved Generic Drug Applications
1 Yangtze River Pharmaceutical 14 18
2 Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical 11 18
2 Beite Pharmaceutical 11 15
4 Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals 9 12
5 CSPC Pharmaceutical 8 12
6 CR Pharmaceutical 7 7
6 SSY Group 7 7
8 Reyoung Pharmaceutical 6 8
9 Qilu Pharmaceutical 5 7
9 Easton Biopharmaceuticals 5 6
9 Sino Biopharmaceutical 5 5
9 Tianyu Pharm 5 5
  Data source: Menet.com.cn

* Notes: The approved generic applications outnumber the approved drugs. The reason is that for products with the same active ingredient but with different strengths and/or dosage forms, the generic drug products\’ applications are different.

Among the approved generic drugs made by the top 12 companies, 18 are the first generics in China, including 6 drugs by Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, 5 by Kelun Pharmaceutical, 2 by Yangtze River Pharmaceutical, and 1 by Beite Pharmaceutical.

\”First generic drug in China\” refers to the first generic drug developed by Chinese companies and approved by China NMPA. They can enjoy 12-month market exclusivity as they are the first generics to have successfully challenged the patents of innovator drugs.

Related Article:

Top 4 Companies\’ Approved Generics


Top 1: Yangtze River Pharmaceutical

Yangtze River Pharmaceutical was the champion in 2021 with 31 approved drugs and comes in first again with 14 approved generics in H1 2022.

No. Approved Generic Drug Registration Classification Therapeutic Area
1 Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection Class 4 Nervous system
2 Levofloxacin and Sodium Chloride Injection Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
3 Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Sulfate and Potassium Sulfate Concentrate Oral Solution Class 3 Gastrointestinal system and metabolism
4 Levofloxacin Injection Class 3 Systemic anti-infection
5 Aripiprazole Orally Disintegrating Tablets Class 3 Nervous system
6 Nifedipine Controlled-release Tablets Class 4 Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system
7 Tedizolid Phosphate for Injection Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
8 Levetiracetam Tablets Class 4 Nervous system
9 Olmesartan Medoxomil Tablets Class 4 Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system
10 Sugammadex Sodium Injection Class 4 Musculoskeletal system
11 Sitafloxacin Tablets Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
12 Rocuronium bromide Injection Class 4 Musculoskeletal system
13 Levosalbutamol Hydrochloride Nebuliser Solution Class 3 Respiratory system
14 Bivalirudin for Injection Class 4 Blood and hematopoietic system
*First generics are in green and bold.

*To learn about drug registration class, please refer to China Chemical Drug Registration Classification.

Top 2: Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical


Kelun has 11 generics approved in H1 2022, among which five are first generics.

No. Drug Registration  Classification Therapeutic Area
1 Linagliptin Tablets Class 4 Gastrointestinal system and metabolism
2 Trelagliptin Succinate Tablets Class 3 Gastrointestinal system and metabolism
3 Medium and Long Chain Fat Emulsion / Amino Acids (16) / Glucose (36%) Injection Class 3 Blood and hematopoietic system
4 Medium and Long Chain Fat Emulsion / Amino Acids (16) / Glucose (30%) Injection Class 3 Blood and hematopoietic system
5 Tirofiban Hydrochloride and Sodium Chloride Injection Class 3 Blood and hematopoietic system
6 Sildenafil Citrate Orodispersible Tablets Class 4 Reproductive & urinary systems and sex hormones
7 Sugammadex Sodium Injection Class 4 Musculoskeletal system
8 Ipratropium   Bromide Solution for Inhalation Class 4 Respiratory system
9 Gadoteridol Injection Class 4 Others
10 Linezolid and Glucose Injection Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
11 Palonosetron Hydrochloride Injection Class 4 Gastrointestinal system and metabolism
*First generics are in green and bold.

Top 3: Beite Pharmaceutical


Beite also has 11 generic drugs approved in H1 2022, most of which are for anti-infection and the respiratory system.

No. Drug Registration   Classification Therapeutic Area
1 Terbutaline Sulfate Nebuliser Inhalation Class 4 Respiratory system
2 Levosalbutamol Hydrochloride Nebuliser Solution Class 3 Respiratory system
3 Pramipexole Dihydrochloride Sustained-release Tablets Class 4 Nervous system
4 Salbutamol Sulfate Injection Class 3 Respiratory system
5 Oseltamivir Phosphate for Oral Suspension Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
6 Oseltamivir Phosphate Capsules Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
7 Voriconazole for Injection Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
8 Tranexamic Acid Injection Class 4 Blood and hematopoietic system
9 Voriconazole Tablets Class 4 Systemic anti-infection
10 Cefuroxime Axetil for Suspension Class 3 Systemic anti-infection
11 Benzbromarone Tablets Class 3 Musculoskeletal system
*First generics are in green and bold.

Top 4: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals


Though Hengrui is not among the top 3 generic approval winners, the company has the highest number of 6 approved first generics in H1 2022.

At the end of 2018, China started mandating that generic drugs must pass the quality and therapeutic equivalence evaluation before applying for joining the volume-based procurement. Since then, Hengrui has shifted its focus to innovator drugs and high-end generic drugs.

No. Drug Registration Classification Therapeutic Area
1 Nimodipine Oral Solution Class 3 Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system
2 Paracetamol and Mannitol Injection Class 3 Nervous system
3 Ondansetron Oral Soluble Pellicles Class 3 Gastrointestinal system
4 Gadobutrol Injection Class 4 Other
5 Ambroxol Hydrochloride Oral Solution Class 3 Respiratory system
6 Omega-3-acid Ethyl Ester 90 Soft Capsules Class 3 Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system
8 Medium and Long Chain Fat Emulsion / Amino Acids (16) / Glucose (16%) Injection Class 4 Blood and hematopoietic system
9 Diquafosol Sodium Eye Drops Class 4 Sensory system
10 Tacrolimus Sustained-release Capsules Class 4 Anti-neoplasm and immunomodulation
*First generics are in green and bold.

Reprinted from: ChemLinked

Reference Links


Generic Drug Application (ANDA) in China

Webinar: Generic Drug Application Procedures in China

How Does China\’s Drug Patent Linkage System Work?

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