New IBS treatment unveiled at CIIE

Global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca released at the ongoing second China International Import Expo its new product Linzess – a first-in-class treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, or IBS-C.

According to AstraZeneca, IBS-C is characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain and constipation. The chronic gastrointestinal disorder affects up to 14 million patients in China. The disease is not well-known, and the diagnostic rate is quite low.

In January 2019, Linzess was approved by China's National Medical Products Administration for adults with IBS-C.

AstraZeneca China's president Leon Wang said Linzess is "an important new treatment for this type of IBS in China, where there is a specific high unmet medical need".

"Through our exhibition, we want to show that, in the context of global connectivity, AstraZeneca is collaborating with cross-sector partners from the government, industry, academia, research institutes and medical institutions," he added.

In late September, AstraZeneca amended its collaboration agreement with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc in the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. With the amended agreement, AstraZeneca is solely responsible for developing, manufacturing and commercializing Linzess in China.

AstraZeneca will pay Ironwood three non-contingent payments totaling $35 million between 2021 and 2024. In addition, Ironwood could receive up to $90 million in milestone payments, contingent on the achievement of certain sales targets.