Eight Manufacturers, including Medtronic, Enter NMPA Innovation Pathway

November 17, 2020

Complete List

Product Name	Manufacturer
Pulsed Field Ablation System	Medtronic, Inc.
Bronchus RF Ablation Systems	Suzhou Xinmai Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.
Catheterized Mitral Valve Replacement System	NewMed Medical Co., Ltd.
Tumor Treating Field Equipment	Hunan Antai Kangcheng Biological Technology Co. LTD
Orthopedic Surgery Navigation and Positioning System	Tinavi Medical Technologies Co., Ltd.
Multimodal Tumor Radiofrequency Therapy System	Shanghai Meijie Medical Technology Co., LTD
Self-expurgated Particle Biliary Stent	Nanjing Rongsheng Medical Technology Co., LTD
Three-branch Aortic Stent and Delivery System	Beijing Tianzhu Changyun Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

How to Get the Designation

The final version of “Innovation Approval Procedure for Medical Devices” published on November 5, 2018 lists four criteria for manufacturers to apply:

Provide Class II / Class III medical device with significant clinical application value,
Own valid invention patent and have China Patent & Trade Office coverage,
Complete the preliminary study on prototype with traceable data, and
Have an authorized in-country legal entity.

If the “Innovation Device designation” is granted (which does not mean “approval”), the device will be allocated ‘front-of-queue’ priority throughout the registration process. The granted priority affects the classification determination, pre-clinical testing, QMS auditing, and CFDA reviewing/approving processes. Meanwhile, a designated NMPA officer would check in and provide guidance throughout the whole expedited process.

Key Takeaways for Overseas Manufacturers

Overseas manufacturers have to bear in mind that:

NMPA gives overseas manufacturers an equal opportunity for the fast-track channels. No difference as to the qualifications for domestic manufacturers vs. overseas ones.

“Conditional Approval” applies for urgently needed medical devices. NMPA issue the “Guideline on Conditional Approval for Medical Devices” on December 20, 2019. It specifies that devices and IVDs indicated for life-threatening illnesses can be granted “Conditional Approval”, if the benefits of the products overweigh the risks, and the manufacturers are committed to do further clinical research
They can initiate innovation approval applications at same time when applying China Patent & Trade Office coverage. Application does not have to be made after getting the patent
Having been granted “designation” does not mean “approval”. With ‘front-of-queue’ priority, they still have to go through the normal review process.

This fast-track channels will greatly accelerate the registration process and CMD and help you evaluate the possibilities of your application. For other NMPA fast-track channels, please click HERE.