A new arthritis drug has hit the global market after 12 years in development, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group headquartered in East China's Jiangsu province, announced on Jan 8.

The compound iremod marketed under the brand Iguratimod tablets is China's first home-developed rheumatoid arthritis drug.

It is the first worldwide to use small molecular therapy and has shown efficacy after patient use for four to six weeks, according to Simcere.

Development of iremod began in 2003 by the Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Simcere. The drug was certified by the State Food and Drug Administration last year.

(Source: China Daily)