China has officially launched last Sunday its much-awaited anti-Alzheimer’s drug, made out of brown algae, in the Chinese market. The drug is said to be the panache for this dreaded brain disease which has affected more than 10 million in China and 50 million worldwide.

China’s National Medical Products Administartion claims that it is world’s first innovative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease in 17 years. Called GV-971, will cost 40,000 Yuan for one patient per year. The drug will be included in the basic medical insurance programme so that the cost can be reimbursed, thus making it affordable most of the patients.

GV-971 is capable can treat mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer’s and improve cognition. Zhang Zhenxin, a professor of neurology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital said that many patients taking part in the trial had shown great improvement in their cognitive abilities, and some improvements persisted even after they stopped using the drug.