PfizerParticipated in the 6th China International Import Expo in 2023
Recently, at the 6th China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE"),PfizerShowcased over 30 innovative products and medical solutions, including six innovative products exhibited in China for the first time. Among the first-time exhibits, two notable innovations in the migraine field are Rimegepant Orally Disintegrating Tablets (trade name: LATIKO) and Zavegepant.
“PfizerReturning to the field of neurology, with migraine as the vanguard and starting point for redeveloping the neurology field, is based on our many years ofPfizer"Rooted in the inheritance of neurology."PfizerChen Ye, Head of Migraine Business in China, expressed, "We are very much looking forward to making this product (Rimegepant) and this line the future."Pfizer"The engine of China's sustained and healthy growth."
Last century, the rise of anti-psychiatric drug浪潮 brought hope, but most pharmaceutical companies' neuroscience businesses encountered setbacks. Moreover, the mechanisms behind most central nervous system (CNS) diseases remain unclear, causing drug development in this field to enter a stagnant phase, with pharmaceutical companies successively withdrawing. In May of last year,PfizerThe $11.6 billion acquisition of Biohaven marks a significant move for "the world's largest pharmaceutical company," Pfizer, to reposition itself in the central nervous system (CNS) sector.
More than a year has passed, and the field of migraine headaches has becomePfizer"The leader in the field of neurology."
Migraine is the third most common disease and the second most disabling disease globally. Data shows that the annual prevalence of migraine is 14.4%, with approximately 1.04 billion people worldwide suffering from this condition. In China, there are about 130 million patients, accounting for 12.5% of the global patient population, meaning one in every ten adults aged 18 to 65 has migraines. Industry experts predict that the market size for migraine treatments could exceed $11 billion in 2024.
At the same time, there are multiple gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine in China.
Professor Li Yansheng from Renji Hospital, affiliated with the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, pointed out, "The exact cause of migraines is currently unclear, and there is no effective way to completely cure them; they require long-term management. In the face of a large number of patients in China, there are 'three shortages' in the field of diagnosis, treatment, and management: First, there are few trained and qualified professional doctors; second, patients’ awareness of migraine disease is almost zero—they do not know its harmful effects, nor how to manage it, and continuous pain can lead to excessive use of painkillers; third, the general treatment and management measures still rely on common painkillers, and even some of the top tertiary hospitals do not have new treatment drugs."
Rimegepant is the world's first and only new-generation small-molecule CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) receptor antagonist orally disintegrating tablet that can be used for both acute treatment and prevention of migraine.
Chen Ye introduced, "After taking oral Rimegepant, it will disintegrate within one minute, take effect in 45 minutes, and its efficacy can last for at least 48 hours. It has a completely different mechanism from previous non-steroidal drugs or painkillers, and it can reduce the frequency and number of days of migraine attacks in patients."
In January this year, the Rimegepant Orodispersible Tablets became available in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan, with the first prescription issued. In September, Rimegepant was approved by the Guangdong Provincial Drug Administration to be introduced into mainland of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through the "Hong Kong-Macao Drug Importation Scheme," breaking the previous situation where there were no specific drugs for the treatment and prevention of migraine in China.
"In the pilot zone of Hainan, the orally disintegrating tablets of Rimegepant have been included in Hainan's special drug insurance, which means that insured residents within Hainan Island can get 100% reimbursement for this drug upon an initial diagnosis of migraine," said Chen Ye.
It should be noted that, focusing on the global migraine treatment drug market, in 2018, the FDA approved three CGRP-targeted monoclonal antibody injectable drugs, which opened up a new chapter in the migraine drug market. To date, eight CGRP-targeted migraine treatment drugs have been approved, including the orally disintegrating tablets of Rimegepant, which were approved in 2020.
Specifically in the Chinese market, three migraine treatment drugs targeting CGRP, including Rimegepant Orally Disintegrating Tablets, have submitted marketing applications.Junshi BiosciencesThe development of JS010 has entered the clinical stage. It can be said that migraine treatments targeting CGRP are still a blue ocean in the Chinese market.
In addition,PfizerThe Zavzpret™ nasal spray, unveiled for the first time at this year's CIIE booth, is the world's first and only CGRP receptor antagonist nasal spray for the treatment of acute migraine. This product will help more patients avoid adverse reactions and first-pass metabolism effects caused by gastrointestinal absorption.
On March 10, 2023, Zavzpret™ nasal spray was approved by the FDA for market release and is expected to be available in the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone in early 2024.
At this year's CIIE,PfizerBuild the first online migraine center with JD Health based on the Internet hospital platform.
According to the introduction, the online migraine center will undertake three major functions: First, based on JD Health's pharmaceutical supply chain and healthcare service capabilities, an integrated online and offline service ecosystem will be established to create a complete "medical-treatment-management" pathway for migraine patients, including "online self-diagnosis - doctor’s light consultation - offline visit - medicine supply - online long-term service," thereby changing the current situation of low offline visit rates; Second, explore innovative access, innovative payment methods, and innovative commercial insurance models to meet the needs of migraine patients for immediate consultation and drug treatment; Third, continuously carry out migraine science popularization education through digital means.
In addition, with the acceleration of innovative drug launches, to better promote the accessibility of innovative drugs,PfizerSigned a strategic cooperation agreement with CR Pharmaceutical to jointly explore integrated channel solutions for migraine products, ensuring the accessibility of the products through multiple stages such as drug importation, nationwide distribution across China, tendering processes, and terminal access.PfizerInnovative products quickly and widely benefit patients in China, creating a full-cycle closed-loop service for patients from diagnosis to treatment to medication.
(This article was first published on the Titanium Media App, Author: Yang Yaru, Editor: Sun Cheng)