• Edirol, a postmenopausal osteoporosis drug created by Chugai, has been launched in China
• Edirol is used as a base drug for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. More than 10 million patients have been treated with Edirol to date
• Chugai Pharma China will provide product information in collaboration with Roche China to contribute to the treatment of osteoporosis in China

TOKYO, July 15, 2022 -- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) announced that its wholly owned group company in China, Chugai Pharma China Co., Ltd. (Head Office, Taizhou; President, Kunihiko Yukimatsu), launched Edirol^® (generic name: eldecalcitol) in China for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Edirol is an active vitamin D₃ derivative created by Chugai. The product obtained regulatory approval from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on December 2020.

“We are very pleased that Edirol, an osteoporosis agent created by Chugai, has been launched in China. Edirol has long been recognized in Japan as a base drug for the treatment of osteoporosis, used by more than 10 million patients to date,” said Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai’s President and CEO. “Prevention of fractures is important for the well-being of patients with osteoporosis. Aiming to contribute to the osteoporosis treatment in China, Chugai Pharma China, a group company which leads our business in China, will provide information of Edirol in collaboration with Roche China.”

The number of osteoporosis patients in China is reported to be approximately 80 million in 2014,¹ and approximately less than a quarter of them is receiving treatment.² As the objective of osteoporosis treatment is to maintain and improve patients’ quality of life by preventing fracture, treatments which can increase bone mass and reduce the risk of bone fractures are in great need.

About Edirol
Edirol is an active vitamin D₃ derivative created by Chugai, which can improve calcium and bone metabolism. In Japan, Edirol was launched in April 2011 for the treatment of osteoporosis. In Prevention of Osteoporosis and Clinical Practice Guidelines 2015, Edirol obtained as grade A as an active vitamin D₃ agent in the efficacy assessments for the increase in bone mineral density and the decrease in vertebral fracture.³

Sources

1. Hebei Medical Journal, 2014, Vol 36 Dec No.24
2. 原发性骨质疏松症诊疗指南，中华医学会骨质疏松和骨矿盐疾病分会，《中华骨质疏松和骨矿盐疾病杂志》, 2017, 20(5):413-443.
3. Prevention of Osteoporosis and Clinical Practice Guidelines 201