On August 5, Merck announced that its novel non-nucleoside cytomegalovirus (CMV) inhibitor, Premin® (Litemovir Tablets), was officially launched in China for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositive adult recipients [R+] for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection and cytomegalovirus disease.
Cytomegalovirus is a widespread herpes virus that poses a serious threat to the life and health of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Studies have shown that cytomegalovirus infection and cytomegalovirus disease directly lead to an increase in transplant-related mortality. As the world’s first and currently the only drug approved for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in allogeneic HSCT recipients, Letermovir has changed the cytomegalovirus prevention and control model in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by moving the virus prevention and control port forward. , filling the gap in the field of cytomegalovirus prevention.
“In recent years, my country has made remarkable achievements in the scientific research and clinical fields of blood diseases, especially the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation technology has reached the world’s leading level, but the control of cytomegalovirus in the process of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is still one of the important challenges currently facing. A more accurate and efficient response plan is urgently needed to escort the life and health of patients.” Professor Huang Xiaojun, director of the National Clinical Research Center for Hematological Diseases and director of the Institute of Hematology at Peking University, said, “The preventive effect brought by Litemovir The treatment concept ‘provides us with a new idea for securing the threshold of cytomegalovirus infection. I expect that this innovative medical achievement can be widely used in clinical practice, and provide support for the level of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in my country to a new level.”
Previously, Letermovir Tablets and Letermovir Injection have been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in December 2021 and May 2022, respectively.
“We are very pleased to see the accelerated introduction of a breakthrough drug such as Premin® for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in allogeneic HSCT recipients, which fully reflects the Chinese government’s promotion of innovative drugs and the benefit of cutting-edge medical achievements. The determination of patients.” said Anna Tian, President of Merck China, “The launch of Premin® further enriches Merck’s anti-infective product pipeline and will bring more treatment options to patients and medical professionals. As a global leader in the field of anti-infectives , we will adhere to meet the needs of patients as the driving force, promote the continuous innovation of drugs, and actively respond to the challenges of infectious diseases; maintain close cooperation with all partners to further improve the accessibility and affordability of high-quality drugs, for the ‘Healthy China 2030’ ‘Contribute to the realization of the national strategy.”
