China approved the market entry of 48 innovative drugs in 2024, covering a broad spectrum of diseases, as part of efforts to accelerate drug approvals and improve patient access to new, high-quality treatments, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) said on Tuesday.
The NMPA released its 2024 Drug Review Annual Report on the day, revealing significant progress in accelerating the approval of new and essential medicines. In 2024, the country granted approval for 48 first-class innovative drugs, covering nearly 20 therapeutic areas such as oncology, neurological disorders, endocrine diseases, and anti-infectives.
"For drugs with high clinical urgency, the NMPA has established several channels that facilitate their market entry. For example, drugs undergoing the priority review and approval procedure now have their review time reduced from the usual 200 working days to just 130. In 2024, NMPA included 124 applications for priority review, covering 88 drug varieties, marking a 14-percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, 110 drugs were approved under this expedited process, involving 74 drug varieties, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 29 percent," said Yuan Lijia, a staff member with the business management division of the center for drug evaluation under the NMPA.
The report also highlighted the NMPA's push to fast-track approvals for urgently needed medications, particularly those for rare diseases and pediatric use. In 2024, 55 drugs for rare diseases (excluding class-four generic drugs) and 106 pediatric drugs were approved.
Besides, the availability of drugs in short supply has also improved significantly. In 2024, NMPA approved 117 drugs with supply gaps, encompassing 21 varieties. Over the past five years, a total of 226 drugs in short supply have been approved, covering 12 medical fields, including circulatory and neurological diseases.
The NMPA also made strides in approving breakthrough therapies. In 2024, the agency received 337 applications for breakthrough therapeutic drugs and granted approval to 91, marking a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year.
"NMPA has established four processes facilitating the market entry of drugs, including breakthrough therapy process, conditional marketing authorization, priority review and approval and special approval. The priority review process, for example, covers drugs in short supply with high clinical urgency, innovative and improved treatments for major infectious diseases and rare conditions, pediatric drugs, and innovative vaccines," Yuan stated.
China accelerates approvals for innovative, urgently needed drugs
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
