Everest Medicines announced the commercial launch of VELSIPITY(R) (etrasimod arginine tablets) in Mainland China, highlighted by the issuance of the first prescription at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, marking a milestone in patient access in the region. According to reports, on the day the first prescription was issued in mainland China, VELSIPITY(R) was simultaneously prescribed in eight tertiary hospitals across seven key cities—Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Chongqing, Beijing, and Nanjing—achieving immediate coverage of patients in major regions nationwide on its launch day. The drug has also expanded patient access through internet hospital platforms. To date, patients at leading medical institutions, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University of the People's Liberation Army, Chongqing People’s Hospital, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, have already benefited from the therapy.
Notably, VELSIPITY(R) was approved for marketing by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in February this year. The first prescription in mainland China was issued just one month later, marking a rollout significantly faster than the industry average. Industry observers believe this not only reflects the strong clinical demand for the product but also demonstrates Everest Medicines’ execution capabilities in the commercialisation of innovative drugs.
From a disease burden perspective, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered one of the fastest-growing gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. IBD mainly includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). In recent years, the number of patients in China has continued to increase, driven by changes in dietary patterns, shifts in lifestyle, and improvements in diagnostic capabilities. Several industry research institutions predict that China’s IBD treatment market could exceed RMB 10 billion by around 2030, with novel small-molecule innovative drugs expected to become one of the key drivers of market growth.
From a clinical perspective, ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease characterised by symptoms such as mucus and blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and rectal tenesmus, which can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. In China, both the incidence and prevalence of UC are increasing, with a clear trend toward younger patients. The patient population is projected to grow from approximately 0.98 million in 2025 to about 1.50 million by 2031. As the disease remains incurable, patients require long-term management to maintain disease control.
