盐酸纳呋拉啡(Remitch)在中国上市了吗?好购买吗？

Introduction: In 2009, nalfuraphine hydrochloride was approved in Japan to improve pruritus in hemodialysis patients (only when existing treatments are unsatisfactory). Subsequently, indications such as refractory pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease and peritoneal dialysis patients have also been approved.

Is nalfuraphine hydrochloride (Remitch) available in China?

On July 4, 2023, 3SBio’s orally disintegrating tablets were approved for marketing by the China State Food and Drug Administration to improve pruritus in hemodialysis patients whose existing treatments are unsatisfactory. Nafurorapine hydrochloride (Remitch) is a selective opioid kappa receptor (к(kappa)-opioid) agonist independently developed by Toray Co., Ltd. It exerts anti-pruritic effects through a new mechanism of action that is completely different from existing antihistamines or anti-allergic drugs.

Is nalfuraphine hydrochloride (Remitch) easy to buy?

Nafuraphine hydrochloride is already on the market in China and can be purchased. You can refer to the following purchasing methods.

1. Hospital pharmacy: Patients can wait for the doctor to issue a prescription and buy nalfuraphine hydrochloride directly in the hospital pharmacy.

2. Pharmacies: Patients can also choose qualified pharmacies to purchase the drug, including physical pharmacies and online pharmacies. Since this is a prescription drug, it requires a doctor's prescription to purchase it. A medical prescription is required before purchasing the drug.

3. Medical service institutions: Patients can also purchase nalfurapine hydrochloride through domestic medical service institutions, such as the Japanese version. After successfully purchasing the drug, they usually obtain the drug through direct mail.

Patients can choose the appropriate purchase method according to their own conditions, and at the same time, use the medicine under the guidance of the doctor to understand, use and dosage.

The efficacy of nalfuraphine hydrochloride (Remitch)

The clinical effect of nalfuraphine hydrochloride in Japan is very good. Taking it once a week for only two weeks has produced good effects on the symptoms of hemodialysis patients. After 52 weeks of use, more than 50% of patients who had failed to respond to existing drug therapies had significant improvement in symptoms after taking nalfurapine hydrochloride.

Nalfuraphine hydrochloride was used in patients whose symptoms persisted after using existing therapies, and the itching symptoms were reduced by more than 15%, and more than 60% of the patients had relief from insomnia caused by itching. Satisfaction with treatment among hemodialysis patients suffering from pruritus increased from 49.1% to 70.6%.

Hemodialysis patients suffer from pain due to refractory diseases. Nafuraphine hydrochloride provides patients with a new and effective treatment method that can reduce pain and improve quality of life.