Merck, Bristol Myers, AstraZeneca and Roche lose bid to expand PD-1/L1 reach in China

For existing PD-1/L1 inhibitors, China represents an opportunity for new growth. But foreign drugmakers have once again lost their chance to reach a wider pool of patients in the country as local players make inroads by offering steep discounts.

Merck’s Keytruda, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi and Roche’s Tecentriq all failed to cut deals in China’s latest National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) negotiations, according to new listing results published (Chinese) Monday.