The Week in Review: New Government Policies Affect Pharma

China is expected to announce a $1.5 trillion, five-year plan to spur seven industries, including biopharma; the NDRC has ordered price reductions on 174 innovative drugs, all of which had previously been free to set their own prices; Cardinal Health paid $470 million for Zuellig Pharma, a China drug distributor; Shanghai Pharma will buy a majority stake in China Health System, expanding its drug distribution business in North China; according to rumors, GlaxoSmithKline will soon acquire Nanjing MeiRui Pharma; Sumitomo bought a 29% stake in C&O Pharma; Sino Biopharma will spend $37 million to purchase additional shares in two of its subsidiaries; 3SBio acquired a gout treatment from EnzymeRx for $6.25 million; Dongsheng Pharma acquired a vasodilator drug from Shanghai Wan'Te Pharma for $1.5 million; and Ascenta Therapeutics struck a deal to co-develop cancer drugs with Ascentage Pharma Group. More details…. Stock Symbols: (NYSE: CAH) (SHEX: 601607) (NYSE: GSK) (SPEX: COPT) (HK: 1177) (NSDQ: SSRX) (OTCBB: DNGH)