[Beijing, July 19, 2017] Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. announced today that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) has made the decision to include VELCADE® (Bortezomib for Injection) and ZYTIGA® (abiraterone acetate) on the list of the 2017 National Reimbursement Drug List (2017 NRDL).

VELCADE® for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma (MM) and relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and ZYTIGA® for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), will be eligible for reimbursement through insurance.

Multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma are blood cancers that severely reduce patients’ quality of life and place a heavy burden on those living with the conditions and their families. The median ages of diagnosis of MM and MCL are 59^[1] and 65^[2] respectively.

Prostate cancer is the sixth most common cancer in men in China ^[3] and its incidence rate has risen sharply . Treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a great challenge in China, where without effective treatment patients’ average length of survival is no more than 2 years^[4].

The listings of VELCADE® and ZYTIGA® on the 2017 NRDL recognizes the clinical needs of patients with MM, MCL and mCRPC, and supports the efficacy of these treatments.

“We welcome and support the decision made by MOHRSS to include VELCADE® and ZYTIGA® on the NRDL,” said Asgar Rangoonwala, President of Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. “As a Company, we are committed to developing innovative medicines that will enhance patient outcomes. Xian Janssen will continue to work closely with MOHRSS and all relevant healthcare authorities to support access to our medicines for those patients most in need.”

For more information, please refer to:
https://www.mohrss.gov.cn/gkml/xxgk/201707/t20170718_274153.html

Resources
[1] J Lu, J Lu, W Chen, et al. Clinical features and treatment outcome in newly diagnosed Chinese patients with multiple myeloma: results of a multicenter analysis Blood Cancer J. 2014 Aug; 4(8): e239.
[1] YU Chang-yan，ZHOU Xue-meng，ZHAO Shu，et al. Research Progress of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in the Elderly
Patient. China Cancer,2016,Vol.25,No.9
[1] HE Jie, CHEN Wanqing. 2012 Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. Beijing: Military Medicine Scientific Publishing. 2012.
[1] Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: AUA Guideline, https://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Castration-Resistant-Prostate-Cancer.pdf, Accessed Dec 16, 2013