AstraZeneca to promote Chinese patent medicine

Chinese pharmaceutical major Luye Pharma Group Ltd announced on Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with AstraZeneca China for the latter to have exclusive rights to promote its Xuezhikang capsule medicine in the Chinese mainland.

The 10-year partnership marks a milestone, as it is the first time a global pharmaceutical company has gained authorization to promote a prescription Chinese patent medicine in the mainland that was independently developed by Chinese companies.

Chinese patent medicines are type of traditional Chinese medicine that are usually produced in the form of pills, capsules or liquids. A first-tier blood lipid management drug in China, Xuezhikang has also been launched in overseas markets, such as Singapore and Malaysia.