Herbridge,27 May 2010-Galantamine Hydrobromide,a hot product in 2003,has a small demand globally now.But manufacturers believe that the ongoing scientific researches will promote the market to boom.

    According to herbridge.com,Janssen Pharmaceutica has developed galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in Japan. Janssen Pharma submitted an application for approval to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in February 2010.Furthermore,Janssen Pharma has signed an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited regarding co-marketing in Japan of galantamine on March 31, 2010.

    Industry insider said,the galantamine demand is small in the international market.The majority is used for scientific research.Thanks to remarkable medicinal properties,clinical trials and new functions found in recent years,the galantamine may have a prosperous market in the future.

    In major treatment guidelines, galantamine is positioned as one of the standard therapies for “mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease”. First approved in 2000 in Europe, it has been launched in more than 70 countries around the world. Hunan Hongshengtang pays an important role in the development of galantamine in China.It takes four years(from 1998 to 2001) for Hongshengtang to successfully develop integrated production process.The demand outstripped supply with the price up to 0.5 million yuan per kilogram in 2003. After Hongshengtang being dismantled,the technicians established many companies in or near Hunan province.Attributed to competition and improved technology,the price declined sharply and is around 100,000RMB/kg now.In addition,synthetic galantamine was available in 2008.Which to some extend impaired the natural galantamine market. Currently,synthetic galantamine has been produced in quantity.

    However,it is difficult for manufacturers to enter the natural galantamine industry on account of the production technology.Manufacturers are located in Hunan,Chongqing and Zhengjiang province,including Ningbo J&S Botanics Inc.Their products meet the USP standards.Additionally,most manufacturers export galantamine hydrobromid as herbal products except two enterprises as API.

    Lycoris aurea,the source of galantamine,is a special product in China.It widely grows in the mountainous areas in Guizhou,Hunan province.It is understood that each kilogram of galantamin consumed almost 10 tonnes of lycoris aurea.When referred to the sustainability of raw materials,Su,marketing manager,Ningbo J&S Botanics ,said,lycoris aurea began to be cultivated in quantity around 2005.If the galantamine market grows significantly,the raw material supply may not become a problem.