(Yicai) Nov. 6 -- Sanofi, Novartis, Gilead Sciences and other pharmaceutical multinational companies are unveiling their latest medicines and medical devices for the first time in China at the seventh China International Import Expo.

A number of rare disease drugs that have not yet been approved for marketing anywhere in the world are being exhibited at the CIIE, which kicked off yesterday in Shanghai, Yicai learned.

Sanofi is showcasing its Fitusiran injection for hemophilia, which is the world's first and only non-factor siRNA therapy for hemophilia. The Paris-based company’s application for the drug to go to market in China was accepted in May.

And Gilead is displaying its drug Seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, which is a chronic autoimmune disease that slowly destroys the bile ducts. As a progressive disease, 40 percent to 68 percent of patients can progress to cirrhosis within four years if they do not receive adequate treatment, resulting in death.

Novartis is showcasing its latest cardiovascular and renal drugs at the CIIE for the seventh consecutive year. These include Atrasentan and Fabhalta, which are innovative drug combinations for the treatment of IgA nephropathy, a type of kidney disease.

It is the first time that Novartis' kidney disease portfolio has been on show at the CIIE since it acquired SanReno Therapeutics, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, in January. The take over expands the Basel-based firm’s kidney disease drug pipeline in China.

In addition, Johnson & Johnson is making the global debut of four products in the cardiovascular field. And Roche has unveiled its future pipeline in the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China.

Editor: Kim Taylor