Is dexmethylphenidate (Azstarys) included in medical insurance reimbursement?

Up to now, dexmethylphenidate (Azstarys) has not been approved for marketing in mainland China, and therefore has not been included in the national medical insurance directory. In the domestic market, the main drugs for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are still methylphenidate (Ritalin), atomoxetine (Strattera) and other drugs that were approved earlier. Since Azstarys belongs to a new generation of central stimulants, its drug registration and approval process is still in the overseas stage, so it cannot be purchased through formal channels in China.

Azstarys is a prescription drug (Schedule II) in other listed countries (such as the United States), which must be purchased with a doctor's prescription and is subject to strict medication management. In overseas markets, its price is relatively high, mainly due to drug research and development costs and patent protection periods. Generally speaking, the price of Azstarys in the U.S. market fluctuates depending on dosage and insurance policy, but even with commercial medical insurance support, patients' out-of-pocket costs may still be higher.

However, asADHD has received widespread attention around the world, more and more innovative drugs have been included in the medical insurance system. For example, in the United States and some European countries, Azstarys has begun to be included in the reimbursement scope of commercial medical insurance to reduce patients' long-term medication burden. At the same time, China's domestic drug approval policies are gradually accelerating the introduction of drugs for psychiatric and neurological diseases. If Azstarys is officially launched in China in the future, it may be included in the medical insurance system after passing clinical value assessment.

For ADHD patients currently in ChinaIf there is a real clinical need for Azstarys, some cross-border medical institutions can assist patients to purchase the original drug from the United States, India or Singapore through legal import channels. However, this process involves doctor's prescription and customs supervision. Patients must carefully choose formal medical channels to avoid drug safety risks.

Reference materials:https://azstarys.com/