China Pharma
Holdings, Inc. ("China Pharma") (NYSE Amex: CPHI), which develops,
manufactures, and markets specialty pharmaceutical products in China, today
announced that the Company has completed clinical trials for Candesartan, an
anti-hypertension drug, and submitted the generic drug production application
to the SFDA.
Analysis of the clinical trial results shows that Candesartan Cilexetil is
a prodrug of Candesartan. It is 10-fold stronger in effect than Losartan, has
good selectivity (Candesartan has much greater affinity (>10,000-fold) for the
AT1 receptor than for the AT2 receptor), and has long effective time (one
administration per day in low dosage). As a prodrug, it also enables smooth
release via an oral solution, which makes it an ideal hypertension drug.
Candesartan, the leading anti-hypertension drug, is an angiotensin II
receptor antagonist for which 2007 worldwide sales exceeded $2.5 billion.
Discovered and originally synthesized by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited,
Candesartan was jointly developed by Takeda and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
for the treatment of hypertension, chronic heart failure, and left ventricular
systolic dysfunction.
In China, nearly 60% of all urban adults aged 65 years and over suffer
from hypertension, and prevalence in urban areas is expected to reach 100
million by 2011. Candesartan is listed in the China's National (Medical)
Insurance Catalog ("NIC"), allowing patients to be reimbursed by the
government.