Opioid dependence is a chronic, relapsing medical condition that requires long-term treatment and patient support. A combo therapy was developed based on Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, alongside buprenorphine, which is designed to limit the potential for misuse and potentially lower the street value and the incentive for diversion.
Ms Liying Yang, the VP of R&D, said: “Our formulation is the first in the Chinese market and, as the innovator, assuming we receive full approval by the SFDA, we expect to have seven years of exclusivity in the Chinese market. The company is planning to conduct clinical study in 2008 and bring this effective medical treatment to China in early 2009.”
Opioid dependence has become a serious medical and social challenge in China, according to China Aoxing. As of 2006, there were approximately 1.2 million registered individuals addicted to opioids in China. This figure is estimated to grow at 10% per year while the number of un-registered drug addicts could be significantly higher.