Generic drugs occupy over 70% of tamsulosin market

used in to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

Total prescriptions of generic drugs in 1H KRW 81.6 billion... increased 18% in 1 year

Prescription of the original drug fell 3% in one year...market share fell to 30%

Impurities detected in some products in June... the effect of voluntary withdrawal insignificant

The share of generic drugs in the market for prostatic hyperplasia treatments that contain tamsulosin exceeded 70%.

 

This is interpreted as an effect of the rapid rise in generic sales while the prescription performance of original products slowed down.

 

One variable in this market is impurities.

 

At the end of June, impurities were detected in some products, initiating voluntary recalls.

 

However, as only one product made the voluntary recall, its impact on the overall market is not significant yet.

 

Prescription of tamsulosin generics rise 18% in one year...

 

market share exceeds 70% According to the market research institute UBIST on the 9th, the outpatient prescription market for tamsulosin single-agent prostatic hyperplasia treatments in 1H recorded KRW 107.2 billion.

 

The market increased by 10% from KRW 97 billion in 1H last year.

 

The growth of generic products in the market led to the expansion of the overall market size.

 

In 1H this year, the combined prescriptions for tamsulosin generics amounted to KRW 74.9 billion, an 18% increase from the past year.

 

On the other hand, prescriptions of the original product Harnal-D decreased by 3% from KRW 33.4 billion in 1H last year to become KRW 32.3 billion in 1H this year.

 

Prescription Performance of Tamsulosin Drugs for BPH

While sales of the original drug slowed down, sales of generics rose rapidly.

 

As a result, the share of generics in this market exceeded 70% for the first time.

 

The quarterly share of generics exceeded 50% in Q3 2018 and then expanded further to exceed 60% in Q2 2021.

 

Then, in the second quarter of this year, it exceeded 70%.

 

The share of generics in the market reached 70.2% in Q2 this year.

 

Sales of Hanmi Tams·Taminal·Bearosin rise over 10%…sales of combo drug Duodart rise rapidly Prescription performance of most of the major generic products increased by more than 10% during the past year.

 

Hanmi Pharm’s 'Hanmi Tams' and 'Hanmi Tams OD’ recorded the highest prescription performance among generic tamsulosin drugs in 1H this year.

 

The combined prescription of the two products in 1H this year recorded KRW 19.2 billion, up 11% from the KRW 17.3 billion the two drugs had made in 1H last year.

 

In particular, prescriptions of Hanmi Tams OD rose from KRW 4.6 billion to KRW 6.2 billion in one year, driving the growth of the entire product line.

 

Hanmi Tams OD is an orally disintegrating tablet version of Hanmi Tams, which is a capsule formulation.

 

In addition, the prescription performance of all products with half-year prescriptions that exceed KRW 2 billion increased by more than 10%.

 

Sales of Genuone Science's 'Taminal' increased by 11% from KRW 3.7 billion to KRW 4.1 billion, and Daewoong Bio's 'Bearosin' increased by 25% from KRW 2.8 billion to KRW 3.5 billion.

 

Prescriptions of DongKoo Bio&Pharma’s ‘Uropa,’ Celltrion Pharm’s ‘Tamsol (30%↑)', Kyung Dong Pharma’s ' Uronal (14%↑)', Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s ' Tarunal (26%↑)', Huons’s ' Tamlusindi (19%↑)' had also increased relatively greatly.

 

One product that stands out is GSK’s ‘Duodart.’ Duodart is a combination of tamsulosin and another prostatic hyperplasia drug dutasteride.

 

Prescriptions of Duodart had only reached KRW 0.9 billion in 1H last year, but sales had risen by more than 7 times in one year to KRW 6.7 billion.

 

GSK released the product in Q1 last year.

 

The variable that remains in the market is impurities.

 

Last June, Huons voluntarily recalled some lot numbers of its Tamlusindi.

 

This was a voluntary recall made to address concerns related to the detection of excess N-nitroso tamsulosin impurities.

 

However, the voluntary recall was limited to Huons.

 

No cases of voluntary recall have been reported since then.

 

In the current situation, the impact of the impurity issue is not expected to be significant.

 

Specifically, how much the impurities will affect the overall tamsulosin market may be revealed at the end of this year.