Latest news with #painkiller
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
US approves China-invented painkiller that could reduce fentanyl overdoses
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first China-invented painkiller designed as a non-opioid alternative, giving it the potential to curb fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Qamzova, developed by Nanjing-based biotech firm Delova, is the world's first long-acting injectable analgesic – offering 24-hour pain relief through a single daily injection and marking a milestone for China's growing pharmaceutical industry. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication belongs to the same group of painkillers as aspirin and ibuprofen. It contains a high concentration of meloxicam, a compound commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation. According to Sino Biopharmaceutical , the Chinese conglomerate that owns the commercial rights to Qamzova, clinical trials showed it was effective in reducing post-surgical reliance on opioids. By providing a safer, long-acting treatment for moderate-to-severe pain, Qamzova directly addresses the US overdose epidemic fuelled by addictive opioids, including fentanyl – a synthetic drug linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually. Qamzova's arrival underscores China's rising role in innovative medicines development while offering healthcare professionals a critical tool to mitigate opioid dependency risks and improve patient recovery.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
AFT Pharmaceuticals profit drops despite sales up 10 percent
Drug maker AFT Pharmaceuticals has reported a drop in full year profit. Photo: OKSANA KAZYKINA/123RF Drug maker AFT Pharmaceuticals has reported a drop in full year profit as a series of one-off items offset record sales of its range of painkiller products. Key numbers for the year ended March compared with a year ago: The Auckland based maker of the Maxigesic pain killer reported solid growth in its key home markets of Australia and New Zealand which underpinned the business. However, the result were marred by disruptions in the first half of the year including a doctors' strike in South Korea and large customers not ordering as they used up excess stock, as well as lower income from licensing arrangements. Sales in Australia grew 17 percent, lifting its operating earnings by 65 percent, while New Zealand sales were up 10 percent, and it had modest growth in Asia. Managing director Hartley Atkinson said they had sacrificed some short term earnings growth to push its strategy of higher sales in key markets, as well as developing new products. "We have significantly advanced our strategy to extend our reach across multiple geographies and added to our research and development (R&D) pipeline." He said the company was making market gains with new forms of its Maxigesic painkiller, an antiseptic cream in China this year, and the establishment of operations in more countries in Europe, North America, South Africa, and UK. "We have a roadmap for growth in each of these markets founded on a portfolio of our own products and medicines we are in-licensing. "Our approach to these new markets avoids an over-exposure to the US and at present we do not see a significant impact of new US tariffs to our business," Hartley said. AFT said it was aiming to break the $300m sales mark in 2027, and an operating profit of $20m-$24m in the coming year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Wall Street Journal
14-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
South Rampart Pharma Takes Lean to a Different Level
South Rampart Pharma has readied a painkiller for midstage clinical trials with a minuscule amount of funding for a striving biotech firm. And one way the company keeps costs low is by not having salaried employees.
