α-GPC has been prescribed more than twice in 3 years

The Rx amount in the first quarter was ₩109.9 billion, a 22% increase over the previous year

It decreased 0.2% QoQ.

Sales of Choline alfoscerate, a brain function improving agent, continue to grow.

 

The effectiveness controversy has recently been raised, but the market size has increased by more than 20% this year.

 

Over the past three years, the market size has doubled, exceeding the quarterly prescription size of ₩100 billion.

 

However, the decline was slightly lower than in the fourth quarter of last year, and the upward trend was somewhat slow.

 

According to UBIST, a drug research agency on the 6th, the outpatient prescription amount of Choline alfoscerate-based drugs in the first quarter was ₩109.9 billion, up 22.2% from the same period last year (₩89.9 billion).

 

Choline alfoscerate is a drug used to improve brain function, such as decreased sense of memory and confusion and reduced concentration.

 

The prescription amount of Choline alfoscerate has been increasing rapidly over the past few years.

 

The total prescription amount in the first quarter of 2015 has more than tripled in 5 years from ₩34.7 billion.

 

it has doubled comparing to the first quarter of 2017, three years ago.

 

Since the prescription amount exceeded ₩100 billion in the third quarter of last year, it has been recording ₩100 billion for the third consecutive quarter.

 

Quarterly outpatient Rx amount for Choline alfoscerate (Unit: ₩1 million, Source: UBIST)

Despite the recent controversy over the effectiveness of choline alfoscerate, it continued to rise.

 

식품의약품안전처는 지난해 11월 제약사들로부터 콜린알포세레이트제제의 유효성 자료를 제출받았다.

 

허가사항의 효능·효과별 유효성을 입증하는 자료와 국내외 사용현황을 토대로 허가변경 여부를 검토하겠다는 의도다.

 

복지부도 콜린알포세레이트제제의 급여 타당성을 검토 중이다.

 

The MFDS received data on the effectiveness of Choline alfoscerate formulations from pharmaceutical companies in November last year.

 

The intention is to examine whether or not to change the permit based on data proving the efficacy and effectiveness of the permit, and the status of domestic and foreign use.

 

The MOHW is also considering the feasibility of supplementing Choline alfoscerate.

 

Since last year's government audit questioned the effectiveness of Choline alfoscerate formulations and spending on health insurance finances, it began to verify efficacy.

 

In a state audit, In-Soon Nam, Democratic Party of Korea asked that we should promptly re-evaluate the clinical usefulness and efficacy of the Choline alfoscerate formulation and reasonably re-establish health insurance coverage standards.” Although Choline alfoscerate is not a drug that fundamentally treats dementia, it is analyzed that the market size has expanded rapidly as pharmaceutical companies have focused on the brain functioning market aimed at the rapidly growing elderly.

 

However, compared to the previous quarter, the growth trend is somewhat slow.

 

Prescription results for choline alfoscerate in the first quarter fell 0.2% from the fourth quarter last year.

 

The market for Choline alfoscerate products has declined from the previous quarter for only two years since the fourth quarter of 2017.

 

The industry has analyzed that the market growth has slowed somewhat due to COVID-19 outbreak along with the recent controversy over effectiveness.

 

It is possible that the number of new patients has decreased as patients are reluctant to visit medical institutions, Looking at the prescription amount by item, Daewoong Bio's 'Gliatamin' recorded the highest prescription amount of ₩23.6 billion.

 

It was 4.3% higher than the same period last year.

 

Chong Kun Dang's 'CKD Gliatilin' recorded prescription results of ₩19.6 billion in the first quarter, up 7.9% from the previous year.

 

Both the prescription amounts of Gliatamin and CKD Gliatilin were slightly lower than the previous quarter.

 

Gliatamin's 1st quarter prescription amount decreased 3.2% from the fourth quarter of last year and CKD Gliatilin decreased 1.1% from the previous quarter.

 

Yuhan's Alfoatilin, Korea Prime Pharm’s Gria, and Daewon Pharmaceutical’s Alfocholine were prescribed more than ₩4 billion in the first quarter with a growth rate of more than 15% compared to the previous year.