JAK inhibitor market jumped 2.4 times in 3 years

16.9 billion won in 2018 → 40.6 billion won increase last year

Olumiant Overtakes Xeljanz to No. 1 Market, Rinvoq Follows

(From left) Product photos of Olumiant, Rinvoq, and Xeljanz

The market for Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, an oral autoimmune disease treatment drug, has expanded 2.4 times over the past three years.

 

In addition to Xeljanz, which was leading the market, new products such as Olumiant and Rinvoq were added, and each product actively expanded its indications.

 

Competition between major products is also getting fiercer.

 

Olumiant overtook Xeljanz to become the No.

 

1 in the market in its fourth year of release, and Rinvoq grew more than four times last year compared to the previous year, rapidly catching up with Olumiant·Rinvoq.

 

According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical market research institute, on the 27th, the size of the domestic JAK inhibitor market last year was 40.6 billion won, an increase of 34% compared to 2021.

 

JAK inhibitors are drugs used for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis.

 

It is a mechanism that blocks inflammation, pain, and cell activation by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines.

 

In 2014, Pfizer's Xeljanz was approved in Korea for the first time, followed by Lily's Olumiant in 2017 and AbbVie's Rinvoq in 2020.

 

In 2021, Pfizer received approval for Cibinqo as a successor to Rinvoq.

 

As new products have been introduced one after another in recent years, the size of the related market is also rapidly expanding.

 

The size of the JAK inhibitor market, which was 16.9 billion won in 2018, increased 2.4 times to 40.6 billion won in three years.

 

It is analyzed that not only the addition of new products but also the active expansion of indications for each product had an impact on the market growth.

 

Xeljanz was first approved for rheumatoid arthritis and then added indications for psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and ulcerative colitis.

 

Olumiant was also initially approved for use as an indication of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

In 2021, the indication was expanded to atopic dermatitis for the first time among JAK inhibitors.

 

In addition, at the end of last year, it applied for the expansion of indications targeting severe alopecia areata.

 

Rinvoq has the fastest rate of indication expansion among major drugs.

 

After receiving approval for rheumatoid arthritis, Rinvoq added indications for psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, and ulcerative colitis one after another from the end of 2021.

 

AbbVie plans to add Crohn's disease to this.

 

◆Olumiant leader, Rinvoq soaring… Competitive heat for expansion of indications As generic drugs rapidly expand their indications, competition for the lead in this market is also intensifying.

 

Olumiant surpassed Xeljanz and rose to the top spot in the fourth year of its release.

 

Last year, Olumiant's sales increased by 22% year-on-year to 15.4 billion won.

 

The rise of Rinvoq, which secured the most indications in a short period of time, is also remarkable.

 

Rinvoq's sales last year were 11.5 billion won.

 

From 2.7 billion won in 2021, it soared 4.3 times in one year.

 

During the same period, Xeljanz sales decreased by 11% from 15.1 billion won to 13.5 billion won.

 

Xeljanz sales have been declining since 16.2 billion won in 2020.

 

It is analyzed that the fact that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of the possibility of cardiovascular side effects of Xeljanz based on post-marketing investigations affected the decrease in sales.

 

The FDA warned not only Xeljanz but also Olumiant·Rinvoq with the same content because the mechanism was similar, but the market impact seems to have been prominently shown in Xeljanz.

 

The pharmaceutical industry predicts that competition among JAK inhibitors will intensify in the future.

 

The key is the atopic dermatitis market.

 

In particular, the application of benefits to children and adolescents is expected to have an impact on future market trends.

 

Currently, Olumiant and Rinvoq are covered for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults.

 

In the case of Rinvoq, the indication for atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents has been approved, and there is a possibility that it will receive reimbursement within the year.

 

If Rinvoq expands its coverage to the indication of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents, it is expected that the rise will be even steeper.

 

Olumiant has not secured indications for atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents.

 

Pfizer is also targeting the atopic dermatitis market with Cibinqo, a follow-up drug to Xeljanz.

 

Cibinqo is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.

 

However, wages have not yet been applied.

 

Pfizer applied for insurance benefits for atopic dermatitis in adults last year but withdrew it, and recently reapplied for insurance benefits for both children and adolescents and adults.