Good News: Zhengqing Fengtongning Sustained-Release Tablets Have Been Included in the New National Essential Medicines List, with 24 products and 38 specifications selected simultaneously!

Recently, the National Health Commission officially issued the “National Essential Medicines List (2026 Edition)” (Guo Wei Yao Zheng Fa [2026] No. 17). The new edition will be fully implemented starting September 1, 2026. The total number of items on the list has been expanded from 685 to 794, including 476 Western medicines and 318 traditional Chinese medicines, with a stronger focus on clinically essential drugs and medications for common and chronic conditions at the primary care level, thereby comprehensively improving public access to essential medicines. Hunan Zhengqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. has had a total of 24 products across 38 specifications successfully included in the updated National Essential Medicines List, comprising 3 traditional Chinese medicines and 21 chemical drugs. Its flagship product, Zhengqing Fengtongning Sustained-Release Tablets and Tablets, remains on the list, while two additional commonly used dosage forms—Acetaminophen Tablets and Acyclovir Tablets—have been added, further bolstering the company’s position in the primary‑care drug market under favorable policy support.

Core Product Overview

Zhengqing Fengtongning is formulated from sinomenine, a single active constituent extracted from the plant Sinomenium acutum. It exhibits analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive pharmacological effects, and is indicated for dispelling wind‑dampness, promoting blood circulation to unblock the meridians, and diuresis to reduce edema. As an exclusive patented product in China, it has been awarded the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award as an anti‑rheumatic traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, it is the world’s first anti‑rheumatic drug discovered to specifically inhibit mPGES‑1 (microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase‑1), offering distinct advantages such as well‑defined target specificity, reliable efficacy, reduced adverse effects, and enhanced safety.

Zhengqing Fengtongning is available in multiple dosage forms, including enteric-coated tablets, sustained-release tablets, and injectable solutions. Notably, the Zhengqing Fengtongning sustained-release tablet is China’s first—and currently the only—traditional Chinese medicine formulation of its kind to employ sustained-release technology.

The three‑part sequential therapy for rheumatic and pain conditions, based on Zhengqing Fengtongning, integrates pathology, diagnostics, and therapeutic techniques to form a comprehensive treatment system. It has been recognized by the Science and Technology Development and Exchange Center of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a “National TCM Scientific and Technological Achievement Promotion Project.” Currently, this therapy is widely implemented in medical institutions at all levels, benefiting a broad patient population. It is extensively applied across departments including rheumatology, nephrology, pain management, rehabilitation, orthopedics, and traditional Chinese medicine, demonstrating excellent therapeutic outcomes for various rheumatic pains and chronic nephritis, among other conditions.

Zhengqing® Qingre Jiedu Granules, 5 g (sugar-free), is the only formulation of its kind nationwide. Its formula is derived from the renowned Qing Dynasty prescription “Qingwen Baidu Yin,” and incorporates modern pharmacological evidence demonstrating antiviral, antibacterial, and immune‑enhancing effects. Carefully crafted from 12 premium herbal ingredients, it effectively exhibits antiviral and antibacterial activity, reduces fever, and boosts immunity.

In 2003, it was recommended by the Ministry of Health as a traditional Chinese medicine for combating the SARS virus; in 2005, it was again endorsed by the Ministry of Health as a recommended TCM for the prevention and treatment of avian influenza. It is one of the two TCMs explicitly listed in the National Essential Medicines Clinical Application Guidelines as effective for treating influenza.

Opportunities in Essential Medicines: Policy Support Drives Market Expansion

Inclusion in the National Essential Medicines List means that the company’s products, exemplified by Zhengqing Fengtongning, will benefit from multiple policy-driven opportunities:

1

Strong policy support ensures adequate staffing at the grassroots level.

In accordance with national requirements, government-run primary-level medical and health institutions, secondary public hospitals, and tertiary public hospitals are expected to ensure that the proportion of essential medicines in their formularies reaches at least 90%, 80%, and 60%, respectively. Following inclusion in the National Essential Medicines List, products such as Zhengqing Fengtongning will be granted priority procurement and use across medical institutions at all levels.

2

Covering more than 70% of drug use in public medical institutions.

According to preliminary estimates, the new edition of the National Reimbursement Drug List accounts for 71% of the total drug consumption in public medical and health institutions nationwide, further consolidating the foundational clinical use of essential medicines.

3

Collaborative Coordination of the National Reimbursement Drug List

In this round of adjustments to the National Essential Medicines List, all newly added drug varieties are already covered by basic medical insurance. Going forward, adjustments to the National Reimbursement Drug List will, in accordance with established procedures and based on the updated Essential Medicines List, prioritize the classification of eligible items into Class A and Class B, thereby further alleviating the financial burden of medication for patients.

Stay true to our original aspiration and safeguard the health of the people.

National essential medicines are the foundational drugs that public medical institutions nationwide prioritize in procurement and use. At the primary‑care level, these essential medicines account for nearly 80% of drug utilization; inclusion in the national list will significantly broaden distribution channels at the grassroots level and enhance clinical accessibility. The company’s multiple products have been selected for the latest edition of the National Essential Medicines List, underscoring the proven efficacy, safety, and stability of its portfolio, as well as its alignment with the diagnostic and treatment needs of community‑level patients—key outcomes of the company’s longstanding commitment to quality and its deep engagement in the primary‑care market.

Looking ahead, the company will seize the opportunities presented by the implementation of the new edition of the National Essential Medicines List, ensuring the stable production and supply of core products such as the Zhengqing Fengtongning series, and optimizing distribution channels for its full range of essential medicines. At the same time, it will continue to deepen its efforts in TCM innovation, steadily expanding its portfolio of high‑quality medicines tailored to tiered medical care, thereby supporting the effective rollout of the national essential medicines system and safeguarding the basic health of communities at the grassroots level.