• 28 Feb 2024
• Admin
• News Article

Teva, Jiangsu Nhwa Partners to Distribute Austedo

Teva, Jiangsu Nhwa form partnership to market & distribute Austedo in China

Teva Pharmaceutical Investments Singapore Pte Ltd (TPIS), a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Nhwa) announced it formed a partnership for the marketing and distribution of Teva’s Austedo (deutetrabenazine) for the treatment of neurodegenerative and movement disorders - chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (HD) and tardive dyskinesia (TD) in adults. The partnership intends to increase patients’ access to Teva’s Austedo, leveraging Nhwa’s leadership in China’s neuro-psychiatric health sector.

Words from Teva

“Nhwa has deep neuro-psychiatry expertise and capabilities, from research and development to commercialization,” commented Theodor Wee, general manager of Teva Greater China. “Together, we can promote cost-effective delivery of safe, quality medicines and contribute to the sustainability of China’s healthcare system.”

Huntington’s Disease

• Huntington’s disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. 
• Chorea, one of the most striking physical manifestations of Huntington’s disease, is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary, random muscle movements. 
• It is one of the main symptoms of the disease, occurring in up to 90% of adults living with Huntington’s disease.

Tardive Dyskinesia

• Tardive dyskinesia is another disorder that results in repetitive and uncontrollable movements of the tongue, lips, face, trunk and extremities, affecting 20-50% of patients on long-term antipsychotic medication. 
• For patients with schizophrenia, who are more likely to be treated with antipsychotic medication, the prevalence of TD in China is higher (36.0%~46.5% [234]), than the global average (25.3%).

Words from Nhwa

“As the first deuterated drug approved in China, Austedo offers an innovative treatment for chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and tardive dyskinesia in adults—debilitating disorders that directly impact daily function and quality of life,” added Sun Jiaquan, president and CEO of Nhwa.

Technology in Austedo

In a deuterated drug, hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium, which may significantly lower metabolism rates. The deuterium technology used in Austedo allows less frequent dosing for patients.

Teva on Addressing Chinese Medicine Need

“We are committed to addressing the pressing needs of patients in China with more innovative medicines, in line with our commitment throughout our International Markets region and across the globe,” said Mark Sabag, EVP and head of international markets at Teva. “This partnership assists us with further growing Austedo as a global leading brand, with over $1.2 billion in revenues in 2023, and to deliver on Teva’s Pivot to Growth strategy and providing better health for our patients.”

About Austedo

Austedo is the first and only vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in adults for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (HD).

Teva Pharma

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is a global pharmaceutical leader with a category-defying portfolio, harnessing our generics expertise and stepping up innovation to continue the momentum behind the discovery, delivery, and expanded development of modern medicine.

Jiangsu Nhwa

Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., founded in 1978, is a leading CNS company in China. Over the past 40 years, Nhwa is exclusively dedicated to developing innovative and differentiated pipeline in the areas of anaesthesia, analgesia, psychiatry and neurology via in-house R&D and global partnership.