Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-10-13 15:55Core Points - Fudan Zhangjiang (688505.SH) announced that its subsidiary, Taizhou Fudan Zhangjiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., received a notice from the National Medical Products Administration stating that the drug application for Obeticholic Acid Tablets was not approved due to non-compliance with drug registration requirements [1] - The original drug for Obeticholic Acid faced safety issues and was withdrawn from the European and American markets, which was a significant reason for the rejection of the application [1] - The company has invested approximately 125 million yuan in the development of Obeticholic Acid Tablets, but the rejection will not have a significant impact on its current financial status [1] Industry Overview - Obeticholic Acid was first approved by the FDA in May 2016 for treating primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and received conditional approval in Europe in December 2016 [2] - The prevalence of PBC in China has been increasing, reaching 21.05 per 100,000 in 2022 [2] - Global sales of Obeticholic Acid grew steadily from approximately $250 million in 2019 to $363 million in 2021, stabilizing around $300 million in subsequent years [2] - Safety concerns have led to multiple warnings from the FDA, including a "black box warning" and restrictions on its use in patients with liver cirrhosis [2] - In October 2023, the European Medicines Agency recommended the withdrawal of Obeticholic Acid's market authorization, and Intercept Pharmaceuticals voluntarily withdrew the drug from the U.S. market [3] - Several domestic pharmaceutical companies, including Hengrui Medicine and Zai Lab, are also facing setbacks in their applications for Obeticholic Acid generics due to the original drug's safety risks [4][5]