ALI HEALTH (00241) has announced the nationwide online launch of the original research drug Zinc Acetate Tablets (brand name: Nobeiren®) on its platform. This medication is used to treat Wilson disease, also known as hepatolenticular degeneration or "copper doll" disease, an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism that was included in China's First List of Rare Diseases in May 2018.
The drug, imported by China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation and introduced by Nobeiren Pharmaceutical, has been approved for marketing in Japan for many years and received approval for the Chinese market in 2024 through an application by Nobeiren Pharmaceutical. This launch signifies that this internationally recognized first-line treatment is now officially accessible to patients in China, marking a significant advancement in drug availability for Wilson disease treatment within the country.
According to Professor Yang Wenming, Honorary President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, the global incidence rate of Wilson disease ranges from 1 in 30,000 to 1 in 100,000. However, in China, the incidence is notably higher, at approximately 0.6 per 10,000, making it the country with the highest prevalence globally.
Zinc Acetate Tablets are currently the only zinc preparation globally approved by both the U.S. FDA and the European EMA for treating Wilson disease. Mechanistically, zinc acetate induces intestinal epithelial cells to produce metallothionein via zinc ions. This protein efficiently binds with dietary and endogenous copper, preventing its intestinal absorption and facilitating its excretion through feces. Clinical studies indicate that daily administration of zinc acetate as prescribed can reduce copper absorption and induce a negative copper balance.
Concurrent with the product launch, a series of public welfare initiatives have been initiated. ALI HEALTH Public Welfare and ALI HEALTH Pharmacy, in collaboration with Wuhan Tongxin Wilson Disease Information Service Center, Nobeiren Pharmaceutical, and China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation, have jointly launched the "Guardian of Wilson Disease Children Rare Disease Care Action" to promote drug accessibility. Furthermore, ALI HEALTH has officially launched the "Children's Wilson Disease Treatment Map." This map, based on authoritative guidelines and expert specialties, identifies hospitals, departments, and specialists across China with diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Patients can access it by searching "Guardian of Wilson Disease Children" on Taobao and clicking to enter, aiming to reduce patient travel and provide comprehensive support from "accessing medication" to "finding the right hospital and treatment plan."