Li said diabetes is one of the world's three most deadly diseases. The other two are cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The world is expected to have 300 million diabetic patients by 2025, of which China will account for 100 million, he said.

At present, China has more than 50 million diabetic patients, a number that is growing by 2 million annually.

Huayi started development of the new drug in early 2000 with a large financial investment, said Wu, but he did not release a specific figure.

The company said the new drug will be better than those already available from overseas pharmaceutical companies because it will both stimulate insulin secretion and inhibit glucagon secretion when blood glucose is elevated.

The company will select 240 diabetic patients as required for clinical trials to be held at seven hospitals in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province .

A third phase tests will start in March of next year and continue until 2009.

"If everything goes smoothly, the new drug will be on sale in late 2009," Wu said.

Due to the lower production costs, the new drug is expected to be much cheaper than those made in foreign pharmaceutical factories, Zhang said.

(China Daily 02/06/2007 page14) 

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