On February 28, 2026, the "Care First" Rare Disease Drug R&D Exchange Symposium was held at the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Huang Guo, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the NMPA, attended and delivered a speech.
The meeting highlighted that in recent years, the NMPA has continuously strengthened the assurance of rare disease drug access, implementing a comprehensive policy "combination punch." It has established and unblocked "three channels" to encourage innovation, expedite approvals, and facilitate temporary importation. As a result, both the number and speed of rare disease drug approvals in China have significantly increased. In 2025 alone, 48 rare disease drugs were approved for marketing, enabling more patients to simultaneously benefit from international advanced treatments and medications.
The meeting emphasized that solving challenges in the rare disease field urgently requires more intensive institutional innovation and resource integration. The NMPA will continue to enhance policy provision and strengthen service support in areas such as review and approval. At the same time, it will reinforce multi-party collaboration, build consensus and synergy, and promote the application of new technologies and products.
The symposium was attended by representatives from relevant departments, various offices and subordinate units of the NMPA, as well as from the academic and industry sectors specializing in rare diseases, and patient representatives.
