ZD03, a new drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis developed by Shanxi Zhendong Pharmaceutical Co -- based in Changzhi city in Shanxi province -- was officially approved by the US drug authorities for clinical trials, according to the company on Nov 10. 

The new drug was first developed by the company and a research team led by Zhang Weidong, director of the medicinal chemistry of natural products teaching and research unit at the Second Military Medical University, in 2010. 

The first trial was launched in US in October. 

As a new small molecule innovative drug with completely independent intellectual property rights, ZD03 has become a candidate for treatment of multiple sclerosis in preclinical research -- with research results having obtained a US patent license. 

Shanxi Zhendong Pharmaceutical Co, the first company from Shanxi province listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, mainly produces a series of drugs such as anti-tumor, cardio-cerebral vascular and Chinese patent medicines. 

The company has formed a health industry chain integrating medicinal plants cultivation, research and development, production and marketing. 

It has cooperated with many domestic and foreign research institutes -- including the National Cancer Institute in US, the University of Adelaide in Australia and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences -- in conducting R&D of new drugs, as well as undertaking quite a few major national science and technology programs.