JW Pharm sells ₩10 bil with Actemra in 1H 2022

rises as the company's flagship products

1H sales KRW 11.4 billion... 40% increase compared to 1H 2021

Sales rise with the increase in its prescriptions as a COVID-19 treatment in addition to rheumatoid arthritis

Actemra, JW Pharmaceutical’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment, rose and settled as the company’s flagship product, exceeding KRW 10 billion in sales in 1H this year.

 

The product's increase in sales was fueled by the increase in its prescription as a rheumatoid arthritis treatment and its increased use as a COVID-19 treatment.

 

According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 14th, Actemra recorded KRW 11.4 billion in sales 1H this year, a 39.7% YoY increase from the same period last year.

 

The drug had raised KRW 6.2 billion in Q1 this year, which was a 59.9% YoY increase from the previous quarter, and then raised KRW 5.2 billion in Q2, marking a 21.2% increase.

 

Although its growth slowed down in Q2 compared to Q1, the product still continued on its high growth.

 

Quarterly sales of Actemra (Unit: KRW 1 million, Source: IQVIA)

Actemra was approved in Korea in 2012 as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

 

The drug inhibits the binding of ‘Interleukin-6,’ the protein that causes inflammation in the body, and its receptor, in the body.

 

JW Pharmaceutical introduced this new biologic drug after entering into a license agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Roche, for the co-development and exclusive marketing right of Actemra in Korea.

 

The new drug candidate was developed by Chugai Pharmaceutical, based on which JW Pharmaceutical conducted clinical trials at major large hospitals in Korea including the Seoul National University Hospital, and received domestic approval.

 

It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

 

Actemra did not exert much presence in the early stages of its release.

 

The drug exceeded KRW 10 billion in annual sales for the first time in 2018.

 

Actemra’s sales rose steeply since last year.

 

After recording KRW 3.8 billion in sales in Q4 2020, it broke its own sales record for 5 consecutive quarters until Q1 this year.

 

It is evaluated that the reliability of Actemra in the field has risen with its accumulated prescription experience in rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Actemra has also attracted further attention as it had shown excellent therapeutic effects in patients who do not respond to TNF-alpha inhibitors like Humira, Seretide, and Enbrel.

 

Recently, its sales growth has increased further with its rising demand for COVID-19 treatment purposes.

 

Since last year, Actemra has been used off-label in more than 60 hospitals nationwide for the treatment of severely ill patients with COVID-19.

 

Off-label use refers to the use of existing drugs on the market for purposes other than what it was approved to treat after receiving approval from each institution’s institutional review board (IRB).

 

Demand for Actemra increased significantly in the domestic field after the U.S.

 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC) authorized emergency use of Actemra as a treatment for severely ill patients in need of artificial respiration due to COVID-19 infection in June and December last year, respectively.

 

The demand for Actemra, therefore, had surged last year to cause a shortage in its supply one time.

 

Actemra’s scope of reimbursement was extended to COVID-19 treatment in March this year.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted emergency approval for Actemra in March for use in severely ill COVID-19 patients over the age of 2.

 

Actemra's high growth has led to improved company performance.

 

JW Pharmaceutical’s operating profit rose 173.7% YoY to record KRW 10.3 billion in Q2, and sales rose 12.4% to record KRW 163 billion.