The anti-allergy medicine developed by Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, which is based in Huzhou's Deqing county, features sublingual immunotherapy, in which small doses of allergens are placed under the tongue. [Photo/hz66.com]

An anti-allergy medicine featuring sublingual immunotherapy, which places small doses of allergens under the tongue to increase tolerance and reduce symptoms, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration.

The product was developed by Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, which is based in Huzhou's Deqing county. It is the first drug of its kind in the world and is expected to benefit many patients allergic to artemisia pollen in northwestern areas.

In 2006, the company also developed the nation's first sublingual immunotherapy medicine to treat allergies caused by dust mites, with its market share ranking first in China since 2011.

In addition to anti-allergy drugs, Hu Gengxi, president of Wolwo, said that the company has also engaged in fields including stem cell drugs, natural medicine, and medical-related artificial intelligence.

Allergic diseases are the sixth largest chronic diseases in the world. The World Health Organization has listed allergic diseases as one of the key diseases for research and prevention in the 21st century.

Pollen has become the major cause of allergic rhinitis for many Chinese people, with the incidence of the disease growing in China in recent years, according to Zhang Luo, president of Beijing Tongren Hospital.

Allergic rhinitis is the source of chronic diseases, such as asthma, COPD, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes, according to Zhang.

Survey results show that artemisia pollen is the main allergen in northern China, while mites are the prime allergen in the country's southern part.