China is confronting a rising oncology burden alongside the challenge of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), a common and debilitating side effect of opioid-based pain treatment. The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) recently approved Shionogi’s Symproic (naldemedine), the first peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) for OIC, marking an important step forward in supportive care and pain management in China, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

OIC remains a major challenge in opioid treatment, as it can affect patient compliance and quality of life. Traditional laxatives often provide limited relief, highlighting the need for more effective options.PAMORAs help fill this gap by relieving constipation without reducing analgesic efficacy.

The NMPA approval is backed by Phase III trial results demonstrating Symproic’s efficacy in improving bowel movement frequency and patient-reported outcomes. The approval also represents a new geographic market entry for the therapy, which has already been approved and made available in Japan, the US, and Europe.

Abhishake Peyyeti, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This approval marks a significant milestone in the Shionogi’s Asia-Pacific expansion strategy and reinforces its position in the growing supportive oncology care market. Shionogi strategically partnered with Chia-Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical (CTTQ) to leverage its strong commercial footprint in mainland China for Symproic.”

In 2024, a combination drug of naloxone hydrochloride and oxycodone hydrochloride received approval in China for management of severe pain along with OIC, which is one of the most frequent and non-self-limiting adverse effects of opioid analgesia, reducing treatment adherence and interfering with effective pain relief. Estimates suggest that 80% of cancer patients on opioids in China suffer from OIC, increasing the overall treatment burden. More broadly, the OIC treatment market is being shaped by rising opioid use, aging populations, and expanding chronic pain and cancer care needs.

According to the GlobalData Pharma Intelligence Center, only one Chinese company is involved in the clinical development of OIC treatment drugs. The drug is currently in a Phase I study.

Peyyeti concludes: “China represents one of the largest untapped opportunities for prescription OIC therapies. Rising cancer incidence, increasing opioid utilization for cancer pain management, and growing physician awareness of quality-of-life outcomes are creating favorable market dynamics for targeted OIC treatments.”