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Analysis of the clinical trial results shows that Candesartan Cilexetil isa prodrug of Candesartan. It is 10-fold stronger in effect than Losartan, hasgood selectivity (Candesartan has much greater affinity (>10,000-fold) for theAT1 receptor than for the AT2 receptor), and has long effective time (oneadministration per day in low dosage). As a prodrug, it also enables smoothrelease via an oral solution, which makes it an ideal hypertension drug.
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Candesartan, the leading anti-hypertension drug, is an angiotensin IIreceptor antagonist for which 2007 worldwide sales exceeded $2.5 billion (1).Discovered and originally synthesized by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited,Candesartan was jointly developed by Takeda and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticalsfor the treatment of hypertension, chronic heart failure, and left ventricularsystolic dysfunction.
In China, nearly 60% of all urban adults aged 65 years and over sufferfrom hypertension, and prevalence in urban areas is expected to reach 100million by 2011 (2). Candesartan is listed in the China's National (Medical)Insurance Catalog ("NIC"), allowing patients to be reimbursed by thegovernment.
China Pharma's CEO and president, Ms. Zhilin Li, commented, "We arepleased to announce the satisfactory completion of clinical trials forCandesartan, a multi-billion dollar revenue-generating drug, ahead of schedule.Hypertension is a serious problem linked to an increased incidence of otherdiseases, particularly brain edema, coronary heart disease and diabetes.Candesartan is a well-established and well-tolerated anti-hypertension drugwith an excellent safety record and is known to be particularly suitable forcardiovascular and diabetic patients."
Ms. Li continued, "According to the Chinese government, ninety percent ofChina's citizens will be covered by a universal healthcare system by the endof calendar 2010. Candesartan's presence in the NIC allows users to receivereimbursement and will provide effective treatment for a high number ofChinese patients whose medication needs are seriously unmet. We see greatpotential in the target market and are excited to have an opportunity toprovide this excellent anti-hypertension drug to individuals suffering fromhypertension in China."
About China Pharma Holdings, Inc.
China Pharma Holdings, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company withrapidly growing profit that develops, manufactures, and markets treatments fora wide range of high incidence and high mortality conditions in China,including cardiovascular, CNS, infectious, and digestive diseases. TheCompany's cost-effective, high margin business model is driven by marketdemand and supported by eight scalable GMP-certified product lines coveringthe major dosage forms. In addition, the Company has a broad and expandingdistribution network across 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomousregions. The Company is registered in Delaware, USA. Hainan Helpson Medical &Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Helpson), located in Haikou City, Hainan Province,China, is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Pharma Holdings, Inc. For moreinformation about China Pharma Holdings, Inc., please visithttp://www.chinapharmaholdings.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release and oral statements made by ChinaPharma on its conference call in relation to this release, constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under ThePrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements set forthabove that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements thatinvolve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differmaterially from those in the forward-looking statements, which may include,but are not limited to, such factors as unanticipated changes in productdemand, increased competition, failure to obtain or maintain intellectualproperty protection, downturns in the Chinese economy, uncompetitive levels ofresearch and development, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, and otherinformation detailed from time to time in the Company's filings and futurefilings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Theforward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this pressrelease and the Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-lookingstatement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in thecompany's expectations.(1): Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Annual Report 2008; (2): Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery: 2008 May; 7 383-384. For more information, please contact: China Pharma Holdings, Inc. Tel: +86-898-6681-1730 Email: [email protected] ICR, Inc. Christine Duan Tel: +1-203-682-8200
SOURCE China Pharma Holdings, Inc.
