BRIEF—GSK told it cannot sell Avodart in China

China has banned UK pharma major GSK's Avodart (dutasteride) being sold in the country, effective from October 31,2022 to April 29, 2024.

GSK was also denied the rights to participate any drug procurement in China during the period.

The one and a half year ban came immediately after a statement from China's national drug procurement office, which said Avodart production failed to comply with China's GMP, especially in terms of quality inspection and contamination control.

Avodart, which treats enlarged prostate, entered China in 2011.

GSK was one of the two selected dutasteride manufacturers in July 2021 by the national drug procurement scheme.

With the ban, Chengdu Shengdi Medical became the major dutasteride supplier for public hospitals nationwide.

GSK priced Avodart at 30.9 renminbi ($4.25) per unit (0.5mgx10) to get in the scheme, lower than Shengdi's 33.1 renminbi.