Exports of Dong-A ST’s anemia biosimilar exceed KRW 10 bil

for two consecutive years

Export of Nesp biosimilar Darbepoetin-α reach KRW 13.3 billion last year

Cumulative exports of the drug reach KRW 35.6 billion since its release in 2019

The first biosimilar developed by Dong-A ST has made over KRW 10 billion in exports for 2 consecutive years.

 

The cumulative export sales amount of the drug reached KRW 35.6 billion only 3 years after the drug entered the Japanese market.

 

According to Dong-A ST on the 1st, the overseas sales of ‘Darbepoetin-α’ last year recorded KRW 13.3 billion, a 6.4% increase from KRW 12.5 billion in 2021.

 

Darbepoetin-α is a biosimilar of the second-generation anemia treatment ‘Nesp (darbepoetin-α)’ that was co-developed by Amgen and Kyowa Kirin.

 

The erythropoietin (EPO) in the drug accelerates red blood cell production by stimulating the erythroblasts and is used to treat chronic kidney disease or anemia in patients who receive chemotherapy.

 

Annual exports of Darbepoetin-α (Unit: KRW 100 million, Data: Dong-A ST

The overseas sales of ‘Darbepoetin-α’ solely depend on the drug’s exports to Japan.

 

After conducting the Phase 1 clinical trial on’ Darbepoetin-α,’ Dong-A ST signed a licensing-out agreement on the development and sale of its drug to Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho (SKK).

 

Based on a Phase III trial conducted in Japan to compare the efficacy and safety of ‘Darbepoetin-α’ to the original ‘Nesp,’ SKK received marketing approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare the drug in September 2019, and launched the drug for sale in November of the same year.

 

Since then, Dong-A ST has been exporting the finished product to SKK, which was produced by STGen Bio, a biosimilar company under Dong-A Socio Group, with SKK responsible for its local sales.

 

After generating KRW 1 billion in exports in Q4 2019, the drug sold KRW 8.8 billion and KRW 12.5 billions' worth each in exports in 2020 and last year, respectively.

 

In Q4 last year, exports amounted to KRW 35.6 billion.

 

By last year, the cumulative exports of Darbepoetin-α were found to be 35.6 billion won.

 

The rise in sales is analyzed to be connected to the increase in reliability based on accumulated use experience in the field.

 

Following Japan, Darbepoetin-α is now set to be introduced to the Turkish market.

 

Dong-A ST singed signed a licensing and supply deal with the Turkish pharmaceutical company Polifarma in November last year, Under the agreement, Dong-A ST will transfer the exclusive development and marketing rights to Darbepoetin-α in Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico to Polifarma.

 

Under the deal, Dong-A ST will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments for each stage of development and commercialization while being in charge of the exclusive supply of finished products.

 

Polifarma is a Turkish pharmaceutical company that owns a global sales network in over 50 countries.

 

The company has experience exporting more than 500 drugs to the United States, Europe, Brazil, and Mexico, among other countries, and accumulated relevant approval experience.