CHINA CLAIMS DRUG PRICES STABILISING

China's powerful State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) has claimed that the country's pharmaceutical prices have stabilised. Official statistics for February, April and June indicate that average retail prices were largely unchanged in the first half, but fell 1% in June.

Eight of China's provinces, including Beijing, Tianjin and Guizhou, recorded slight price declines in the month. While growing competitive pressures are forcing prices down — as evidenced by overcapacity and consolidation among China's plethora of basic anti-infective drug producers — the government has also acted to control prices in recent months.