In Hong Kong, over 150 patients with relapsed APL have been treated with ArsenolTM.


ArsenolTM is also a drug developed entirely in Hong Kong and is poised to attain global status as a prescription medication. To date, more than a hundred leukaemia patients in Hong Kong have been treated, a majority of whom went into complete remission. Oral arsenic trioxide gives a bioactivity similar to the IV formulation, but has lower peak plasma arsenic concentrations. Oral formulation improves the cardiac safety of arsenic trioxide, because of lower peak plasma arsenic concentrations. Oral arsenic trioxide is also convenient and safe for outpatients. Patients can take oral arsenic at home, rendering long-term therapy feasible and a massive saving in costs.


With oral arsenic (ArsenolTM) protected by intellectual property rights, Versitech is working on its global commercialization. On March 26, 2010, medical researchers and doctors from North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia converged on Hong Kong for the first international meeting on oral arsenic. The conference focused on the discussion of global academic collaborations to further define the use of oral arsenic in the treatment of various malignant and non-malignant diseases.