China approves oligomannate for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's

In what could prove to be something of a landmark development, Shanghai-based Green Valley Pharmaceuticals says that China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted conditional approval for oligomannate (GV-971) as new drug for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improving cognitive function."

The NMPA granted oligomannate for fast-track review in November 2018.  It is the first novel drug approved for Alzheimer's disease globally since 2003. Oligomannate, a drug derived from marine algae, will provide a new treatment option to fight Alzheimer's disease for patients and is expected to be available in China by the end of 2019, the company said.