HANG ZHOU, China, March 9,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Feb.
26th, 2021, Hongkong Winhealth Pharma Group Co.,
Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Winhealth Pharma") signed a
strategic cooperation agreement with Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH
(hereinafter referred to as "Merz"). The strategic cooperation
between the two parties marks the obtainment of Winhealth Pharma
for the exclusive commercial rights of Hepa-Merz®
(L-ornithine L-aspartate, an important product under Merz' product
portfolio) in China.
About L-ornithine L-aspartate and hepatic encephalopathy
(HE)
L-ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA) is a stable salt of two amino
acids that stimulates ammonia detoxification by increasing urea
synthesis in the liver and muscle, thereby reducing the blood
ammonia content in the brain which causes hepatic encephalopathy in
cirrhotic patients.
Hepa-Merz® Infusion concentrate (HMI) from Merz is
the only imported LOLA in the Chinese market.
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a specific neurological symptom
of liver cirrhosis and a common cause for hospitalization of
patients. Hepatic encephalopathy has an impact on patient's quality
of life and marks the poor prognosis indicator for patients with
liver cirrhosis. According to domestic data, the incidence of mild
hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in liver cirrhosis is 38.8-85.0%.
L-ornithine L-aspartate (Hepa-Merz®) infusion particularly proved
to be effective in preventing the development of hepatic
encephalopathy in those cirrhotic patients with acute emergency
complications (e.g. variceal bleeding). Hepa-Merz® contributes
therefore to the improvement of economic and social burden in
cirrhotic patients.
Stefan Brinkmann, Managing
Director of Merz Therapeutics, emphasized: "At Merz Therapeutics,
it is our mission to bring better outcomes to more patients. We are
very pleased and proud about the new contract between Winhealth
Pharma and Merz, as it will allow patients with liver disease in
China to receive an effective and
beneficial treatment to ease their burden."
Mr. Jack Wang, Chairman and CEO
of Winhealth Pharma, pointed out: "It is exciting to reach
cooperation with Merz again. This is another brand-new milestone
since the first cooperation on Contractubex® in 2017,
which will accelerate the promotion of the product portfolio layout
of hepatobiliary digestive line in the mature pharmaceutical
business of Winhealth Pharma. Meanwhile, based on the established
strategic partnership, the two parties will further deepen
cooperation and integrate the advantages of both sides, so that
Hepa-Merz® can better benefit domestic patients with
hepatic encephalopathy and meet the needs of more unmet
patients."
About Merz
Merz Therapeutics, a business of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, is
headquartered in Frankfurt,
Germany and is represented in more than 90 countries. Merz
Pharmaceuticals GmbH is part of the Merz Group, a privately held,
family-owned company that has dedicated more than 110 years to
developing innovations that serve unmet patient and customer
needs.
About Winhealth Pharma
Winhealth Pharma is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company
aiming at fulfilling severely unmet or underserved medical needs
for patients with rare diseases and other critical medical
conditions in China and
surrounding regions. Since its inception, Winhealth has been
committed to sourcing, developing, and commercializing innovative
therapies from leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies
worldwide.