On July 25, the online sales of atropine eye drops, a myopic drug, were suspended and made a hot search.
On the evening of July 21, Shenyang Xingqi Eye Hospital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xingqi Eye Medicine, announced that since July 22, Internet hospitals will suspend the sales of prescription 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops in the hospital; on July 22, He's Ophthalmology said in response to investors' questions that the company's 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops have been suspended in Internet hospitals, but they are normally sold in Shenyang He's Hospital.
On the same day, in response to investors’ questions, OPCOM said that according to the notice just released, it is necessary to visit the hospital to obtain the medicine (low-concentration atropine) by prescription.
All media reporters from Guangzhou Daily found that: on the one hand, mainstream pharmaceutical e-commerce companies still have many other atropine products on sale, and the relevant parties replied that the products were approved for listing only after the approval of the drug regulatory department; on the other hand, the short-term performance of relevant listed companies or be impacted.
Text / Table Guangzhou Daily All Media Reporter Tu Duanyu Wenjing
It belongs to the hospital preparation and cannot be circulated externally.
It is understood that Shandong Eye Hospital issued a notice on the Internet platform saying that the hospital's Internet hospital does not issue low-concentration atropine sulfate eye drops in-hospital formulations and dispensing.
An ophthalmologist said that atropine eye drops can delay myopia for some children and adolescents with pseudo-myopia, but it needs to be used under the guidance of an ophthalmologist.
It is reported that the product is currently a hospital preparation and cannot be circulated externally.
In October 2021, the "Guidelines for Appropriate Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Updated Edition)" (referred to as the "Guidelines") issued by the National Health and Medical Commission pointed out that children and adolescents with myopia should use low-concentration atropine or wear orthokeratology lenses (OK). Mirror) to slow down the progression of myopia, it is recommended to go to a regular medical institution and follow the doctor's order under the guidance of a doctor.
It is reported that many medical institutions and listed companies have deployed "low-concentration atropine".
According to the National Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publicity Platform, there are 8 clinical trials on "atropine sulfate eye drops" in progress, and most of its indications are "delaying the progression of myopia in children".
According to the data, atropine eye drops were originally used for mydriasis and optometry.
In 2005, Singapore pioneered the study of atropine eye drops for delaying myopia.
However, as clinical trials of related drugs are still in progress, there is currently no low-concentration atropine eye drops approved for marketing in China as a drug.
On June 10, the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the "Internet Diagnosis and Treatment Supervision Rules (Trial)", which pointed out: "Medical institutions carry out Internet diagnosis and treatment activities, and the prescription should be issued by the doctor who is in charge, and the use of artificial intelligence, etc. is strictly prohibited. Automatically generate prescriptions; it is strictly forbidden to provide medicines to patients before the prescription is issued.”
"Low-concentration atropine eye drops are in-hospital preparations. According to the current laws and regulations, preparations prepared by medical institutions shall not be sold in the market or sold in disguised form, and can only be purchased in the hospital with a prescription from a licensed physician or licensed assistant physician in the hospital according to the patient's condition. , there is indeed a big controversy in the online consignment of in-hospital preparations." Xie Logistics, a senior investment consultant at Jufeng Investment Consulting, told the media.
Weng Zichi, senior investment consultant of Jufeng Investment Consultants, said that low-concentration atropine eye drops can only be approved for marketing after completing standardized clinical trial evaluations.
Drug use for children and adolescents is a very serious issue. Low-concentration atropine eye drops may take several years to pass clinical trials, and an observation period may also be set after the market.
The stock price and short-term performance of relevant listed companies may suffer
As early as June 24 this year, the news that "Internet hospitals will restrict the prescribing of atropine" came out. On that day, the share price of A-share Xingqi ophthalmic medicine fell sharply, down nearly 17%.
It is reported that in addition to Xingqi ophthalmic medicine, many companies such as Opcon Vision, He's Ophthalmology, and Aier Ophthalmology are also deploying atropine eye drops.
On July 25, Xingqi Eye Medicine, Opcon Vision, and Aier Ophthalmology all experienced varying degrees of share price declines.
Taking OPCOM as an example, on June 1, 2022, OPCOM announced that its holding subsidiary Hefei Kangshi Eye Hospital has obtained the "Medical Institution Preparation Registration Approval" issued by the Anhui Provincial Drug Administration.
The completion of this registration enables Hefei Kangshi Eye Hospital, a holding subsidiary of the company, to start formulating and selling low-concentration atropine for the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents to meet the clinical demand for this species.
Its affiliated Anhui Medical University Kangshi Eye Hospital has also obtained the qualification of Internet hospital practice before, allowing patients to make online appointments, follow-up visits, and prescribe medicines without leaving home.
On June 7, OPCOM said in response to investors' questions that "sales will learn from the experience of peers."
Some experts said: "The suspension of online sales means that the main sales channel of listed companies for this product has been cut off, and product sales have been greatly reduced. The impact on performance is self-evident. The recent changes in the stock price of related listed companies also reflect pessimistic expectations. With the advancement of clinical trials and the expansion of product sales channels, the sales performance of related products is expected to improve."
There are many other atropine products on sale in mainstream pharmaceutical e-commerce
On July 25, all media reporters from Guangzhou Daily searched Ali Health, JD Health, Pinduoduo, and Meituan Buying and found that some platforms still sell atropine eye drops, atropine sulfate eye gel, etc., while some platforms only have atropine. Eye drops for sale.
As of the time of writing, it was reported that Xingqi low-concentration atropine sulfate eye drops, which were discontinued in Internet hospitals, could no longer be searched on various platforms.
The reporter noticed that the atropine sulfate ophthalmic gel mainly sold by most e-commerce platforms is the product of Xingqi Eye Medicine Co., Ltd.
On the 25th, the reporter found Xingqi Dishan atropine sulfate ophthalmic gel in Ali Health Pharmacy, priced at 36.6 yuan per box.
Since it is a prescription drug, the platform requires reporters to upload a doctor's prescription before they can buy it.
A person related to Ali Health said that this product is not the same product as the 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops reported by the outside world. It has been approved by the drug regulatory department and has been approved for sale.
On Taobao and JD.com health platforms, the reporter found atropine eye drops from other countries, such as India, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, etc.
Take an imported low-concentration atropine eye drop from Switzerland sold on Tmall Global as an example. The store customer service said that this eye drop is an over-the-counter drug that can be ordered directly. The price is about 99 yuan/piece/10ml.
According to the page, the concentration of atropine in the eye drops is 0.0001%, which can relieve the deepening of myopia, relieve dryness and discomfort, etc.