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- 2025-12-24 02:10:26
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- ‘No regrets...happy to have served at Daiichi Sankyo Korea'
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 06, 2023 05:56am
- Dae Jung Kim, President of Daiichi Sankyo Korea “I have no regrets. Although I have no specific plans set for the future, I would like to say it was a great honor to have served over 30 years at Daiichi Sankyo, and will cherish the memory forever.” Dae Jung Kim (63), President of Daiichi Sankyo Korea and the longest-serving multinational pharmaceutical company CEO in Korea, is leaving the industry. Although the company headquarters proposed to extend his term, President Kim has respectfully expressed his intention to resign. As successor, Daiichi Sankyo Korea recently appointed Jeong-tae Kim (49), the current vice president of Daiichi Sankyo Korea, as the new president. Accordingly, President Dae Jung Kim will retire at the end of this month (March) and remain as an advisor to help the company for the time being. “After dividing the employees into over 20 teams, I have been holding farewell parties with them for almost 2 months. Having served such a long time, I wanted to personally meet each and every one of my employees and express my gratitude. I will be leaving the beloved company after completing the overseas workshop that we haven’t been able to conduct due to COVID-19.” After being appointed as President of Daiichi Sankyo Korea in 2010, President Kim led the Korean subsidiary for 15 years. Also, President Kim had been working at Daiichi Pharmaceutical before the company merged with Sankyo in 2007. Kim joined Daiichi Pharmaceutical in 1991. After leaving the company to acquire an MBA, he returned to work in the US office and Japanese headquarters and led the M&A process of the Korean subsidiary. Although Daiichi was not his first place of work, Kim had been with Daiichi Sankyo for nearly 30 years. Kim said, “During my term, I worked to stay true to principle. I believe the role of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Korea is pretty clear. Rather than conduct research or manufacture products, the companies need to supply the products that they have already developed to the Korean patients. Based on this belief, I worked to deliver accurate instructions on how to use the product we introduced to Korea. We thoroughly monitored variables that could occur on-site, unlike in the clinical setting, and focused on improving the knowledge of our employees to ensure accurate information delivery.” While reminiscing, Kim chose the patent term expiry of ‘Olmetec’ as his most difficult period. “At the time, sales of Olmetec fell by nearly 20% due to the inflow of its generics and the price cut that followed. So we decided to take on a ‘choose and focus’ strategy and set the slogan ‘to become reborn as a cardiology treatment specialist,' based on which we discontinued the domestic promotional activity for our antibacterial agent ‘Cravit.' Fortunately, the strategy showed an effect. This decision was solely made by the Korean subsidiary, and we were the only one in the Asia-Pacific region to make such a decision.’ “As a result, we accumulated knowledge and rapport in cardiology, which led to the success of the fourth new oral anticoagulant (NOAC), ‘Lixiana.’ Of course, factors such as the performance of our partners also contributed to the success, so it was a result of everyone's efforts." Immediately after his retirement, President Kim plans to trek the 750km Haeparang trail alone for 50 days. Kim made time for such solitary walks at every turning point of his life. “I only have gratitude and thanks to express to my executives and employees at Daiichi Sankyo Korea. As a leader, I have long been in a position where I had to set a direction and lead the people forward. Having experienced the joys and sorrows together, I want to express thanks to the many that believed in me and followed me through difficult times. I owe my safe retirement to my executives and employees."
- Company
- JAK inhibitor market jumped 2.4 times in 3 years
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 03, 2023 05:57am
- (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.
- Company
- Obesity mkt grows larger than ever...Saxenda leads mkt
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Mar 03, 2023 05:57am
- The domestic obesity treatment market grew to record an all-time high last year. Saxenda maintained its unrivaled lead for 4 consecutive years and left its competitor Qsymia far behind. According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 2nd, the obesity treatment market grew 22.4% YoY to reach KRW 175.7 billion last year. The obesity treatment market had renewed its record for 4 consecutive years since it first set a 10-year new record of KRW 134.1 billion in 2019. The market, which had recorded KRW 96.8 billion in 2018, had recorded high annual growth of 81.5% for the 4 years that followed. However, this growth in the obesity treatment market had slowed down with the spread of COVID-19. In 2019, the market had grown by 38.5% YoY. However, the market only grew by 6.6% and 0.4% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. At the time, interest in obesity treatments declined with the reduction in people's outdoor activities in the early stages of COVID-19. However, last year, the demand for obesity treatments increased again among people who gained weight due to reduced outdoor activities during the COVID-19 crisis and the rise in outdoor activities with the lift of social distancing measures. Among the treatments, Saxenda rose to the sold lead, breaking the two-way structure it had held with Qsymia. Last year, Saxenda’s sales increased 62.7% YoY to KRW 58.9 billion. This is the largest sales it had recorded since its release. It surpassed the KRW 42.6 billion it had made in 2019 by 38.3% in 3 years. Saxenda is the world’s first GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide 1) analogue approved to treat obesity. It contains the same ingredients as the company’s 'Victorza (liraglutide)’ which is used to treat diabetes but has a different dosage and administration. After recording KRW 42.6 billion in 2019, Saxenda’s sales fell for two consecutive years to KRW 36.8 billion in 2020, then to KRW 36.2 billion in 2021, but then made a sharp rebound. After making the lead in the obesity treatment market with KRW 5.6 billion in Q4 2018 with its release, the drug has topped the market ever since, for 17 consecutive quarters. Saxenda enjoyed explosive popularity as it acts with the same mechanism of action as the human body's GLP-1 and suppresses the patient’s appetite to induce weight loss, forming the perception that it is relatively safe. Last year, Saxenda occupied 33.5% of the market. Saxenda’s market share surged from 7.8% in 2018 to 31.8% in 2019, then its growth slowed down somewhat to 25.8% and 25.2% in 2020 and 2021. However, the product regained its rapid growth last year, and its share of the market also reached an all-time high. Qsymia maintained its second place in the market. Its sales rose 14.8% YoY and recorded sales of KRW 30.1 billion last year. Qsymia, which was released at the end of 2019, is a combination drug that contains ‘phentermine’ and ‘topiramate’ that Alvogen Korea gained exclusive marketing rights for in Korea from the US company Vivus. Alvogen Korea signed a copromotion agreement with Chong Kun Dang at the end of 2019 and started to sell the drug in earnest in Korea. Qsymia’s rapid penetration into the market was possible due to the synergistic effect of the sales network owned by Alvogen Korea and Chong Kun Dang in the obesity treatment market from selling ‘Furing’ and ‘Furimin.’ Also, the fact that it contains relatively antipsychotics and may be prescribed long-term although it is an oral formulation acted as a success factor. In 2021, Qsymia’s sales rose to KRW 26.2 billion and closely chased Saxenda by KRW 10 billion. However, as Saxenda showed higher growth, the gap widened to 28.8 billion won last year. Sales of Korea Prime Pharm’s ‘ Phendimen’ rose tenfold from KRW 0.7 billion to KRW 8.2 billion last year. Phendimen is an obesity treatment that contains phendimetrazine. Daewoong Pharmaceutical's ‘Dietamine’ sales fell 5.5% YoY to KRW 7.9 billion, and sales of Huons' ‘Hutermin’ also fell 8.9% YoY to record ₩4.8 billion last year.
- Company
- Organizations and people change
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 03, 2023 05:57am
- The Korean branch of Gilead is facing the most significant transformation since its inception in Korea. Various changes such as the establishment of a new business unit are expected along with changes in the composition of the workforce, such as the resignation of executive director Jeong Yeon-shin, a key member of Gilead Sciences Korea along with CEO Lee Seung-woo. First of all, CEO Lee Seung-woo will leave the company at the end of this month (March). Accordingly, Gilead is in the process of hiring a successor for CEO Lee. It is known that CEO Lee decided to retire with his resignation. CEO Lee is a symbol of a multinational company professional manager in the pharmaceutical industry. Having obtained MBA degrees from the University of Alberta in Canada and Columbia University in the U.S., he worked for Johnson & Johnson and the Korea Global Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA) before being appointed as the CEO of MSD Korea in 1996. He served as the CEO of a Korean subsidiary of a multinational company. In 2011, with the launch of Gilead's domestic corporation, he was appointed as the first head and has maintained his position. He has worked as a professional multinational company manager for over 25 years. Vice President Jeong Yeon-sim will also leave the company at the end of the first half of this year. Vice President Jeong joined Gilead Korea at the beginning of its establishment and was a key person who oversaw the company's external cooperation, such as drug pricing and public relations. His successor was recently confirmed. Director Kim Min-young, who was in charge of policy at the Korea Global Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA) until last month, will lead Gilead's drug pricing department. Significant changes are expected at the business level. Gilead, which has been a major player in antiviral drugs such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, is preparing to enter the anticancer drug market in earnest in Korea starting this year. He is concentrating on the composition of the anti-cancer drug division along with the introduction of drugs such as CAR-T treatment 'Yescata' and ADC drug 'Trodelby'. Actual recruitment is also actively underway, and there are observations that anticancer drug experience will play a major role in hiring a successor for CEO Lee Seung-woo.
- Company
- MFDS approves LG Chem’s P3T for new gout drug
- by Hwang, Jin-joon Mar 03, 2023 05:56am
- A reseracher from LG Chem is reviewing clinical trial data (Pic: LG Chem) On the 28th, LG Chem announced that its global Phase III clinical trial protocol (EURELIA 2 Study) for ‘tigulixostat’ was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Tigulixostat is a new gout drug candidate being developed by LG Chem. The Phase III trial will enroll 2,600 gout patients with hyperuricemia around the globe. LG Chem plans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tigulixostat in comparison with the existing ‘allopurinol,’ which is commonly used in gout patients, by administering the two drugs for 12 months. LG Chem explained that it plans to conduct the global clinical trial by submitting the global Phase III protocol for approval in other countries as well. Tigulixostat is being developed as an oral treatment taken once daily. In the Phase II trial that had been previously conducted, the primary efficacy endpoint was the response rate achieving sUA < 5 mg/dL at month 3. In the trial, the proportion of gout patients reaching sUA < 5 mg/dL at month 3 by study arms was 62% with 200 mg Tigulixostat, 3% with placebo, and 23% with Febuxostat.
- Company
- Corona drug competition system is imminent
- by Jung, Sae-Im Mar 03, 2023 05:55am
- As the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of ending this year, pharmaceutical companies supplying related medicines are in the midst of preparing marketing and sales personnel to prepare for the end of the pandemic. According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 24th, Pfizer Korea is currently hiring large-scale new sales staff. The number of recruits is in double digits. It is very unusual for a multinational pharmaceutical company to hire more than 10 new employees. Usually, when there is a vacancy in a specific position, multinational pharmaceutical companies tend to hire one or two experienced staff only for that position. It is known that the reason why Pfizer is rapidly increasing sales staff is because of sales of Corona 19 treatments and vaccines. According to Pfizer Korea Recruitment, new recruits will be in charge of sales activities in the Corona 19 treatment/vaccine division. The work area will be decided after joining the company in consideration of the business situation in Seoul, Gwangju, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. So far, vaccines and treatments for Corona 19 have been made in such a way that when the government signs a purchase contract, pharmaceutical companies supply the government with a number of medicines and distribute them to necessary front-line medical institutions through companies contracted with the government. But when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, government purchases are expected to drop significantly. Like flu vaccines or medicines, individuals have to pay for and receive vaccinations and prescriptions at medical institutions according to their needs. The supply and sale of COVID-19 medicines will be transferred to the private sector. Moving to the private market, marketing and sales strategies are seen as having a major impact on sales. In particular, unlike therapeutics, which are prescription areas, vaccines can vary in consumer choice depending on awareness and price. Modena Korean corporation (Moderna Korea) has also recruited vaccine marketing and partnership personnel early on. In November of last year, it signed a joint partnership agreement with Guangdong Pharmaceutical for a COVID-19 vaccine. Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is in charge of providing product information on Moderna's Corona 19 2-valent vaccine to medical staff. Moderna Korea, which has not yet had a large workforce due to the establishment of a Korean corporation during the COVID-19 pandemic, is promoting its vaccines through active partnerships with domestic companies. Symposiums have also been held recently in Seoul and Busan to expand skinship with private practice doctors. The dominant forecast is that the end of Corona 19 will be in the middle of this year. The World Health Organization (WHO) took the lead in maintaining the Corona-19 public health emergency in January, but it is expected that the recommendation will be lifted at the next quarterly (April) meeting. In line with this, the United States and Japan issued a policy to end the corona emergency in early May. Korea is expected to follow the same steps. Ji Young-mi, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a recent meeting, "This year will be the first year to end the emergency phase and transition to normal life." As planned, we will observe the overseas situation to determine the level of domestic quarantine."
- Company
- Sky Zoster ranked first in sales of shingles vaccine last yr
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 02, 2023 05:53am
- SK Bioscience announced on the 28th, citing IMS data, a global market research institute, that its self-developed shingles vaccine Sky Zoster achieved the top share in sales in the domestic market last year. According to SK Bioscience, Sky Zoster's domestic market share last year reached 54% based on sales volume. Quarterly by quarter, 51% in the first quarter, 52% in the second quarter, 56% in the third quarter, and 57% in the fourth quarter. It is explained that it broke the record for the largest market share every quarter. Sky Zoster is the world's second and Korea's first shingles vaccine developed by SK Bioscience based on its own technology. SK Bioscience explained that Sky Zoster achieved 1 million doses in cumulative sales within two years after its launch in 2017 based on its excellent safety, immunogenicity, convenience, and reasonable price. As a result of phase 3 clinical trial conducted on 824 adults aged 50 years or older at 8 domestic institutions including Korea University Guro Hospital, it was found that the antibody titer against the varicella-zoster virus increased by 2.75 times after vaccination compared to before Skyzoster vaccination. Non-inferiority to the control vaccine was also demonstrated. As a result of examining the incidence of adverse reactions that occurred 6 weeks after vaccination with Skyzoster, it was similar to that of the control vaccine group, and no serious adverse reactions showing a causal relationship with Sky Zoster were reported even during 26 weeks after vaccination. According to the results of the post-marketing investigation of Sky Zoster announced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in July of last year, as a result of analyzing 651 Sky Zoster inoculations for four years, no serious adverse drug reactions were reported after vaccination. Sky Zoster is released in the form of a 'pre-filled syringe' containing one inoculation per injection, so it has the advantage of low contamination risk and convenient vaccination. Unlike competitive products, the fact that the vaccine only needs to be vaccinated once is considered an advantage. An official from SK Bioscience said, "There was a prediction that there would be a change in market share as a global pharmaceutical company's shingles vaccine entered Korea at the end of last year, but Skyzoster maintained its No. 1 position with its safety and reasonable price competitiveness. Sky Zoster is also expanding its presence in overseas markets beyond Korea. In May 2020, the first global approval was obtained in Thailand, followed by item approval from the Malaysian National Drug Administration (NPRA) in January. In addition to these individual country permits, SK Bioscience plans to accelerate its efforts to target the global market by applying for WHO pre-qualification within this year. Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, said, “As the world is rapidly aging, the importance of vaccination against shingles, which is vulnerable to the elderly, is growing.” I hope to play a role," he said.
- Company
- Samsung Bioepis fiercely chases Celltrion in biosimilar mkt
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 02, 2023 05:53am
- Samsung Bioepis has been rapidly chasing Celltrion in the domestic biosimilar business and expanding sales in the market. As of last year, domestic biosimilar sales of Samsung Bioepis and Celltrion were KRW 42.5 billion and KRW 69 billion, respectively. Samsung Bioepis’s sales more than tripled in one year, greatly narrowing the gap with Celltrion. Samsung Bioepis has been copromoting sales of its biosimilar products in the domestic market with Boryung, Yuhan Corp, Samil Pharm, and Daewoong Pharmaceutical. Samsung Bioepis’s new product releases and the sales power of domestic pharmaceutical companies are analyzed to have created synergy and driven an increase in sales last year. ◆Biosimilar sales in Korea KRW 69 billion for Celltrion vs Samsung Bioepis KRW 42.5 billion According to the market research institution IQVIA, Celltrion made total sales of KRW 69 billion with its biosimilars. In the same period, Samsung Bioepis made KRW 42.5 billion in total biosimilar sales. The sales gap between the two companies had been reduced greatly with Samsung Bioepis releasing a series of new products during the past 3 years. Celltrion’s domestic biosimilar sales by year increased from KRW 54.4 billion in 2019 to KRW 54.9 billion in 2020, KRW 60.7 billion in 2021, then to KRW 69 billion in 2022. In the same period, Samsung Bioepis’s biosimilar sales increased to a greater degree from KRW 8.5 billion to KRW 10.9 billion, KRW 13.2 billion, then to KRW 42.5 billion. Due to this rise in Samsung Bioepis’s sales, the gap between the two companies in biosimilar sales was reduced from KRW 45.9 billion in 2019 to KRW 44 billion in 2020, then to KRW 47.5 billion in 2021, and to KRW 26.5 billion last year. Samsung Bioepis’s biosimilar sales had been less than KRW 10 billion until 2019, but then succeeded in raising sales by releasing a series of new products. The industry's view is that Samsung Bioepis' domestic biosimilar business is now well on track. ◆ Onbevzi ‘s sales exceed KRW 20 billion in the second year of release... Adalloce’s sales reach KRW 7.6 billion last year In Samsung Bioepis’s case, the analysis is that the two biosimilars it had released in 2021 have been driving the rapid rise in sales. Samsung Bioepis has currently released 6 types of biosimilars in Korea - Avastin biosimilar ‘Onbevzi,’ Humira biosimilar ‘Adalloce,’ Herceptin biosimilar ‘Sampenet,’ Remicade biosimilar ‘Remaloce,’ and Enbrel biosimilar ‘Etoloce,’ and Lucentis biosimilar ‘Amelivu.’ Among the drugs, Adalloce was released in Q3 2021, and Onbevzi in Q4 2021. Onbevzi recorded sales of KRW 0.5 billion in 2021, in the first year of its release. Last year, its sales surged to KRW 20.5 billion. The analysis is that Boryung’s domestic sales activities contributed to the increase in sales. With the surge in sales, Onbevzi’s market share quickly expanded to occupy 21% of the market. In the case of Adalloce, its sales, which had only been KRW 1.2 billion in the first year of release, rose 6.5 times to KRW 7.6 billion last year. Samsung Bioepis had signed an agreement with Yuhan Corp to jointly promote sales of Adalloce in Korea. In the case of Sampenet, sales have risen 158% in 3 years, from KRW 2.2 billion in 2019 to KRW 5.6 billion last year. Remaloce’s sales rose 74% from KRW 2.8 billion to KRW 4.9 billion, and Etoloce's 15% from KRW 3.5 billion to KRW 4 billion. Samsung Bioepis is copromoting Sampenet with Daewoong Pharamceutical, and Remaloce and Etoloce with Yuhan Corp. Amelivu’s sales are also expected to be reflected in sales in earnest this year. Samsung Bioepis joined hands with Samil Pharmaceutical to sell Amelivu. Samil started domestic sales of Amelibu in January this year. Amelivu is currently the only Lucentis biosimilar available on market. ◆Remsima’s sales reach KRW 29.3 billion last year... Herzuma KRW 29.3 billion, Truxima KRW 10.2 billion In the case of Celltrion, its three major biosimilars are making smooth sales in the domestic market. In the case of Celltrion, it has been selling the Remicade biosimilar ‘Remsima,' Mabthera biosimilar ‘Truxima,’ Herceptin biosimilar ‘Herzuma,’ Humira biosimilar ‘Yuflyma,’ and Avastin biosimilar ‘Vegzelma’ in Korea. Among the drugs, Remsima accounts for the largest portion of Celltrion’s domestic biosimilar sales. Last year, Remsima’s sales had been KRW 29.3 billion, a 20% increase from the previous year. Herzuma and Truxima are also increasing their presence in the market. Herzuma recorded sales of KRW 29 billion last year, which was a 6% increase from the previous year. Truxima’s sales exceeded KRW 10 billion for the first time last year. Compared to the KRW 8.8 billion it had made the previous year, in 2021, Truxima’s sales rose 15% to reach KRW 10.2 billion last year. In addition, Yuflyma and Vegzelma, which were released in March and December of last year, are also expected to contribute to the company’s biosimilar sales this year. Last year, Yuflyma sold KRW 0.5 billion, and Vegzelma's sales were not aggregated. Celltrion Pharma is in charge of selling Celltrion's biosimilars in Korea.
- Company
- Verquvo takes one step toward insurance coverage listing
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 02, 2023 05:53am
- According to related industries, Bayer Korea's soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) promoter Verquvo, which promotes the synthesis of intracellular cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), recently passed the HIRA. As a result, attention is focused on the future schedule of the Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Evaluation Committee. In December 2021, death due to cardiovascular disease and hospitalization due to heart failure in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 45% who had recently been hospitalized for heart failure or received intravenous diuretics on an outpatient basis. It has been approved domestically as a combination therapy for risk reduction. After applying for benefits last year, it is not fast, but it is showing progress in the process little by little. Existing heart failure treatments were designed to block the harmful effects of the natural neurohormonal system activated by myocardial and vascular dysfunction. In contrast, Verquvo is a water-soluble sGC stimulant that has a new mechanism of improving myocardial and vascular functions by promoting the synthesis of intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which regulates cardiac contraction, vascular tone, and cardiac remodeling. It was approved as the world's first (first-in-class) treatment for chronic heart failure as an sGC promoter. Verquvo has proven its effectiveness through phase 3 clinical trial VICTORIA. The VICTORIA study found a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45 patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure (NYHA Class (New York Heart Association) Grade 2-4, which is a criterion for moderate severity of heart failure) who were hospitalized for heart failure or who experienced intravenous diuretic administration on an outpatient basis. It was conducted on 5050 patients with high-risk heart failure that had decreased to less than 1%. 59.7% of the patients participating in the study were receiving triple therapy, and 41% of severely ill patients with NYHA grades 3 and 4 were included. Patients received a placebo or up to the target maintenance dose of Verquvo 10 mg in combination with other heart failure therapies. As a result, Verquvo met the primary endpoint with an absolute risk reduction of 4.2% and a 10% lower risk of cardiovascular death or first hospitalization due to heart failure during a follow-up of 10.8 months (median value) than the placebo group. The annual absolute risk reduction of hospitalization for heart failure was 3.2%, and the overall risk reduction of all-cause death or hospitalization for heart failure showed that the Verquvo group reduced the risk by 10% compared to the placebo group.
- Company
- Daewoong botulinum toxin Nuceiva launched in Germany and Aus
- by Hwang, Jin-joon Mar 02, 2023 05:52am
- Daewoong Pharmaceutical Botulinum Toxin Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 28th that its botulinum toxin 'Nuceiva' was officially launched in Germany and Austria through Evolus, a cosmetic indication partner in developed countries. Evolus, a partner for cosmetic indications in North America and the European Union, will be in charge of the distribution and marketing of Nuciva in Germany and Austria. Evolus has been preparing for the local release by forming a strategic partnership with Novvia, a local distributor specializing in aesthetic medicine. From the middle of this month, we started product marketing activities targeting local medical personnel. According to a data report published by market research firm Decision Resource Group (DRG), the German botulinum toxin market is estimated at 100 billion won. It occupies the second largest share after the UK in the European Union, which has an annual market size of 690 billion won. As Germany is the most populous country in the European Union, this launch is expected to be a key point for Nuciva to expand its market share in the region. Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Evolus are planning to release Nuciva in other EU countries this year. It plans to launch it in Australia and Singapore, which have recently received product approval, within this year.
