China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the market entry of a new diabetes drug and an expanded indication for an influenza treatment from two multinational pharmaceutical companies based in Pudong, signaling an increasing influx of innovative medicines into the Chinese market.
Novo Nordisk announced on March 6 that the NMPA has approved the marketing application for NovoJed, an innovative drug for treating adults with type 2 diabetes. China will be the first country where NovoJed becomes commercially available worldwide.
"Making China the first market for NovoJed's global commercial launch demonstrates our long-term commitment to the country and ensures that Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes can benefit earlier from global innovative treatment solutions," said Dr. Cai Yan, senior vice president of Market, Medical and Registration Affairs at Novo Nordisk's International Operations.
On the same day, Roche Pharma China announced that its flagship innovative influenza antiviral treatment, Xofluza for oral suspension, has received NMPA approval for expanded indication to treat uncomplicated influenza A and B in children aged between one and five years.
On February 13, Xofluza tablets were already approved for treating uncomplicated influenza A and B in adults and children aged five and above. The new approval extends the treatment's coverage to children as young as one year old, providing more innovative and convenient treatment options for young children vulnerable to severe influenza complications.
Last year, Roche invested over 2 billion yuan (US$290.28 million) to build a new production facility in Pudong. Upon completion, it will become Roche Pharma's second innovative drug manufacturing base in China.
With multinational pharmaceutical companies accelerating both the introduction of innovative drugs to the Chinese market and local production, Pudong is emerging as a significant hub for innovative drug manufacturing.
