Ascletis' Ganovo is Eligible for Shaoxing Government Funding Subsidy Program to Treat HCV Patients

HANGZHOU, China and SHAOXING, China, Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (1672.HK) 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 ("Plan") 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 (Ganovo^® 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.

"Thanks to the Shaoxing government for their support to the domestic innovative drug. The Plan clearly states treatment target, policy intervention and funding principle. This approach can be applicable to other regions on a nationwide basis for HCV patients access to domestic innovative drugs", said Jinzi J. Wu, Ph.D., Ascletis' founder, Chairman and CEO. "We are optimistic that more HCV patients will be treated timely and HCV prevention and treatment work in China will move up quickly to the new level due to government efforts to treat HCV patients."