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New Promise, Looming Competition For DMD In China

70,000 Patients, No Approved Drugs

 
• By Brian Yang and Kosh Naran

With several new drugs progressing for the estimated 70,000 patients in China with DMD, a recent setback for Nippon Shinyaku's contender and progress for Chinese gene therapy developers are adding both uncertainty and likely competition in an untapped market with pressing medical need.

Muscular dystrophy wheelchair user
DMD patients in China sees promise but also uncertainties • Source: Shutterstock

In a recent discussion forum on China's WeChat social media platform, a group of patients whose sons are suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) had good news to share - neurologists at one of the nation’s top-ranked medical facilities, the Beijing Union Hospital, could finally prescribe PTC Therapeutics, Inc.'s Emflaza (deflazacort).

Approved in the US in early 2017 as the first drug for the devasting, severe and progressive genetic muscle wasting...

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More from China

Chinese Biotechs Raise New Funds On Potential First-In-Class Assets

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Helped by their development of novel potential first-in-class therapies, Tcelltech, BioTroy and Xiaolu are among the Chinese ventures to have attracted new funding from investors over the past weeks.

GSK Gains Hengrui’s PDE3/4 Inhibitor, Options For 11 Early Assets In Potential $12bn Deal

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Deal Snapshot: The addition of Hengrui's HRS-9821, a China-originated fast-follower of Verona’s Ohtuvayre in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should enable GSK’s COPD therapy portfolio to stack up well against increasing competitors in the indication, including biologics and small molecules.

Chinese Biotechs Sweep ADC Plus PD-(L)1/VEGF Bispecific Combos Into Phase II

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Chinese firms Junshi, Minghui and RemeGen rank among the world’s few players progressing antibody-drug conjugates combined with PD-(L)1/VEGF bispecific antibodies in Phase II trials for various cancers.

AI-First, Big Pharma, Chinese Firms In Race - What’s Ahead For PRMT5 Inhibitors

 
• By Vibha Ravi

As AI-driven firms including Insilico, big pharmas J&J, Amgen, GSK and AstraZeneca and Chinese and Indian firms like BeOne and Dr. Reddy’s advance PRMT5 inhibitor candidates, what’s driving interest, what could lead to the first global approval and what are the challenges ahead?

More from Focus On Asia

Dr Reddy’s On Semaglutide Prospects, Capacity And There’s An IP Hearing To Watch

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Dr Reddy’s CEO discusses the growth opportunity for semaglutide, including production capacity and ‘crazy’ demand indications, and a potential 20-plus product GLP-1 portfolio. All eyes are also on an upcoming hearing in India pertaining to Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide patent in the country.

GSK Gains Hengrui’s PDE3/4 Inhibitor, Options For 11 Early Assets In Potential $12bn Deal

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Deal Snapshot: The addition of Hengrui's HRS-9821, a China-originated fast-follower of Verona’s Ohtuvayre in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should enable GSK’s COPD therapy portfolio to stack up well against increasing competitors in the indication, including biologics and small molecules.

Korean Biopharma Catching Up On AI, But What Are The Challenges?

 
• By Jung Won Shin

While South Korea's biopharma sector has made progress in its digital transformation, including the adoption of AI technologies, a recent report has identified multiple remaining challenges.