Ascletis' Ganovo eligible for Shaoxing government funding subsidy program

Chinese biotech firm Ascletis Pharma (HK: 1672) announced today Ganovo (danoprevir) is the only direct-acting anti-viral agent (DAA) eligible for Shaoxing government funding subsidy, according to Shaoxing's Action Plan to Accelerate Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis C issued recently.

The Plan defines that 70% of the DAA expenses will be reimbursed by local government for the HCV patients who are Shaoxing residents and treated at the designated hospitals. This is another important milestone for patient access to Ganovo after its recent enrollment in Tianjin Basic Medical Insurance Program under capped-reimbursement per patient pilot program.

Ganovo is the first DAA developed and commercialized by domestic company in China. Ganovo inhibits HCV NS3/4A protease that is critical to HCV replication. In the Phase III clinical trial conducted in Mainland China, Ganovo regimen (in combination with PEGylated interferon and ribavirin) demonstrated a cure rate of 97% (SVR12) in genotype 1 non-cirrhotic patients, with a 12-week treatment duration.