HK Stock Market Move | Innovative pharmaceutical concept stocks lead the way, as innovative drugs are included in the essential drug list for the first time, and implementation at the grassroots level is expected to accelerate significantly.

Concept stocks of innovative drugs leading the gains, as of press time, SKB BIO (06990) rose by 10.5% to 550.5 Hong Kong dollars; INNOVENT BIO (01801) rose by 8.38% to 97.6 Hong Kong dollars; AKESO (09926) rose by 7.88% to 103.4 Hong Kong dollars; 3SBIO (01530) rose by 7.71% to 18.73 Hong Kong dollars. On the news front, the National Health Commission, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the National Health Commission jointly released the "National Essential Medicines List (2026 Edition)" recently, which will be implemented from September 1, 2026. This adjustment is a new round of systematic adjustment after the 2018 edition, which marks a significant change in the policy environment of the innovative drug industry. Chen Zhu, Chief Analyst of CITIC SEC Healthcare Industry, said that the biggest highlight of this adjustment is the first break of the convention of excluding high-priced innovative therapies from essential medicines, including domestic Class I innovative drugs, GLP-1, monoclonal antibodies, and targeted anti-tumor drugs in the new version of the list. This release sends a strong policy signal supporting the development of innovative drugs, further expanding the channel for innovative drugs to enter the grassroots and basic medication system, providing clear policy support and market space for high-quality development of the domestic innovative drug industry. With the deep coordination between essential medicines and medical insurance, the landing of innovative drugs in the grassroots is expected to accelerate significantly.