China-based Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co., Ltd (SHA: 600079) announced that its Category 1 drug RFUS-144 has received clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of pruritus. The drug, a selective opioid agonist, was previously approved for pain relief in China.
Drug Profile
RFUS-144 is being developed to address both pain and pruritus, with no similar products currently available in China. The global pruritus market was valued at $450 million in 2021, with opioid receptors accounting for 13.98% of the segment.
Market Context
The approval positions Humanwell to tap into the underserved pruritus market in China, leveraging RFUS-144’s unique mechanism of action. The drug’s dual indication for pain and pruritus could offer a competitive edge in the therapeutic landscape.-Fineline Info & Tech
