Tianyin Wins Approval for Asthma Drug

Tianyin Pharmaceutical, Co. (TYNP.OB) will add to its list of modernized traditional Chinese medicines the recently SFDA-approved Laonian Kechuan Tablets, a new drug for the company which was approved with a dose of 0.25 gram/tablet. The product is aimed at asthma sufferers who are 60 years old and above. Tianyin will begin recording revenue from the product in November 2008.

In its clinical trial, Laonian Kechuan boosted the immunity and improved the recovery of older patients with asthma. The drug is also given to patients with chronic bronchitis and related indications such as physical weakness.

The company did not disclose why the market for Laonian Kechuan tablets was limited to older adults. Tianyin did say that the China market for asthma drugs in 2004 was more than $580 million, of which at least 75% were TCM products. TCM drugs are preferred in China because of their low toxicity and high degree of efficacy, according to Tianyin. There are approximately 3.8 million people in China who fit the target market: asthma patients who are more than 60 years of age.

With the new approval, Tianyin now has 37 drugs on the market. Another 48 products are awaiting approval.

Disclosure: none.

Comments

[huangthomas:]

Most Chinese still favor traditional Chinese medicine, because they trust them and are less expensive. But most Chinese anti-asthma medicine contains "ephedrine" as the key ingredient. Ephedrine can also give you a "lift" and high blood pressure. USFDA has a warning out on ephedrine.

2008 Sep 12 11:10 AM