China approves first new drug to treat Alzheimer’s in 17 years

Bloomberg

China approved a drug to treat Alzheimer’s made by a Shanghai-based pharmaceutical company, the first new therapy endorsed for the disease in 17 years and a major breakthrough in the country’s push to become a leader in scientific research.
The National Medical Products Administration said in a statement that it granted conditional approval to Oligomannate. In trials, the drug statistically improved cognitive function in patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s as early as week four, Shanghai Green Valley Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.
The drug is slated to be available in China by the end of 2019, Green Valley said, and joins only a handful of Alzheimer’s-related therapies worldwide. There are currently no globally approved treatments to slow the disease.