08-Mar-16 According to a circular issued by China's State Council, generic drugs already available on the market should be assessed on whether they are consistent with brand-name drugs, and if they could be used clinically. Crucially, generics that pass the assessment will be included under national insurance coverage. [image: People's Daily Online]

29-Feb-16 An agreement worth RMB10 bn (USD1.5 bn) has been signed between WuXi AppTec and Ping An Bank jointly to explore the health industry. According to the deal, Ping An will provide a credit line for WuXi AppTec to promote the pharmaceutical platform company's development in the domestic market. [image: Chinatopix / Getty Images]

29-Feb-16 The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), which has set a foreign direct investment target of USD300 bn by 2020, is now wooing Indian pharmaceutical companies to maximize its conducive research-innovation ecosystem and advanced manufacturing infrastructure. To this end Japan has amended the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, drastically improving the approval process for medicine and medical devices. [image: JETRO]

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27-Feb-16 The CFDA has said it would prioritize the approval of drugs with clear clinical value, including those that use advanced technology or innovative methods. It added that certain categories of drugs would get priority, including those for children and the elderly, rare diseases, AIDS, malignant tumors and viral hepatitis. [image: Aly Song / Reuters]