China Medical System: NDA for Additional Rheumatoid Arthritis Indication of Methotrexate Injection Approved in China

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Aug. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on 30 July 2024, the New Drug Application (NDA) for an additional indication of Methotrexate Injection (the “Product”) has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). The Product is a small-volume methotrexate injection with various strengths for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adult patients. The Group was granted a certificate of drug registration on 5 August 2024.

Methotrexate is recognized internationally as the first choice first-line and anchor drug for RA. The Product is the first methotrexate prefilled injection to treat RA by subcutaneous administration in China, providing a safer, more effective, more convenient and more accurate administration scheme for RA adult patients.

According to the communication with NMPA, the bridge clinical trial of the Product in China (the “Study”) aims to compare the changes of DAS28-ESR score of patients with RA treated by methotrexate injection and methotrexate tablets compared with the baseline at week 12, and to judge whether the non-inferiority is established. The Study reached the preset primary endpoint, and the experimental group (given the Products) was not inferior to the control group (given methotrexate tablets). In addition, the results of secondary efficacy indicators suggest that the product has a tendency to have better efficacy than methotrexate tablets. The results also show that some of the curative effects that can be observed in the early stage of the Product are more obvious than those of methotrexate tablets, suggesting that the curative effect of the Product appears earlier. The Product has acceptable safety and tolerability, and is basically consistent with the safety characteristics observed in previous studies. No new safety risks have been found, and it has certain advantages over methotrexate tablets in terms of gastrointestinal adverse reaction^[1].

In March 2023, the Product was approved for marketing in China for the treatment of severe recalcitrant disabling psoriasis, which is not adequately responsive to other forms of therapy such as phototherapy, PUVA, and retinoids. The Product was also announced as a Reference Listed Drug by NMPA. This indication has already entered into large-scale clinical application. After the approval of the additional RA indication, it can be directly applied to clinical application, which can improve the bioavailability and convenience of clinical treatment for RA patients, reduce gastrointestinal side effects. At the same time, it also reduces the burden of treatment on doctors and patients, so as to satisfy the demand for the basic gold standard drug for RA patients.

The Product has been approved by 21 European national competent authorities including Switzerland and United Kingdom. At present, the Product has been approved for marketing in 47 countries and regions around the world, including the European Union, Australia, China, etc.

The Group obtained a long-term effective and exclusive license for the Product from medac Gesellschaft für klinische Spezialpräparate m.b.H on 21 September 2020.

The rich innovation pipeline stands as a key driver for CMS’s long-term development. As of now, the Group's newly approved innovative portfolio has been expanded into five products (including six indications), continuously injecting new momentum into sustained and healthy growth of the Group's operation performance. The approval for the additional RA indication of the Product is a reaffirmation of CMS's innovation strategy, and also a continuation and deepening of its strategic declaration of "New CMS, New Rise", marking another milestone on its path of innovation.

About CMS

CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.

CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.

CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a "bridgehead" for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.

Reference:

1. The results of the bridge clinical trial in China was published and can be found at:

CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.

This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.

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