- LOGIN
- MemberShip
- 2025-12-25 08:27:05
- Company
- Amgen’s Lumakras approved in Korea… first-ever approved
- by Feb 16, 2022 05:51am
- Amgen Korea announced on the 15th that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved its ‘Lumakras (sotorasib)’ for the treatment of KRAS G12C mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer on the 15th. Lumakras is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. With the approval, Lumakras became the first targeted therapy to be approved by the MFDS for KRAS G12C NSCLC patients. KRAS is one of the major oncogenes that is found in various cancers including NSCLC. It is the second-most common mutation that occurs in Asian patients after EGFR mutations. NSCLC patients with the KRAS G12C mutation have shown a lower relative survival rate than other lung cancer patients in surgery or chemotherapy, as many are resistant to existing standard therapies. Lumakras is the first-ever oral treatment that selectively inhibits the KRAS G12C mutant protein that is involved with the development of lung cancer. It inactivates the KRAS G12C mutant protein that promotes tumor growth and effectively blocks the signaling for oncogenic activity without affecting the wild-type KRAS. The MFDS approval was based on the phase-1/2 CodeBreak 100 trial results conducted on 124 NSCLC patients confirmed with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with KRAS G12C mutations. Patients who participated in the trial had been previously treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy but experienced recurrence. Results showed that the objective response rate, including complete remission and partial remission, was 36%. Tumor shrinkage was observed in 82.3% of the patients, and the median maximum tumor shrinkage rate of the patients was consistently high at 60%. Professor Myung Ju Ahn from the Samsung Medical Center said, “KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC was an area where a dire need remained for a new treatment option. The average progression-free survival period of these patients had been around 4 months despite the use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment, and no targeted therapy option was available, unlike other mutations. The domestic approval of Lumakras, the first targeted therapy for KRAS G12C mutated NSCLC, is long-awaited news for both the patients and HCPs in the field. Based on its excellent treatment effect and safety profile confirmed in clinical trials, Lumakras is expected to greatly contribute to improving the prognosis of patients."
- Company
- The paradox of COVID-19
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 15, 2022 05:54am
- In contrast to the intensifying supply and demand difficulties of cold medicine and the decline in the performance of respiratory Rx drugs such as antibiotics and expectorants. After the transition to COVID-19 home treatment, the shortage phenomenon intensified, and the pharmaceutical industry began to "excess production." Demand for OTC cold medicines is soaring due to the spread of Omicron mutations. Some pharmaceutical companies have begun overproduction to expand supply. OTC was out of stock This is in contrast to the prolonged slump in Rx drugs such as antibiotics and expectorants used in respiratory infectious diseases. The Corona crisis is acting as a boom in the OTC market and a recession in the Rx drug market. ◆ The shortage of OTC cold medicine and pharmaceutical industry has started overproduction According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 14th, the shortage is prolonged in front-line pharmacies, focusing on commercial medicines such as cold medicines and fever reducers. In particular, general medicines such as Theraflu, Coldaewon, and Champ are mostly out of stock at online malls. In fact, an official from Ildong Pharmaceutical, who is in charge of domestic sales of Theraflu, said, "It is difficult to confirm accurately due to the lack of statistics in February, but demand seems to have doubled or tripled than usual." An official from Dong-A Pharmaceutical, who is producing and supplying the children's fever reducer and cold medicine Champ series, also said, "The demand for the first and second weeks of February has soared. We are continuing to produce, but at the moment, we are unable to keep up with demand." He said, "Not only cold medicine, but also liquid painkillers Ibuone-Q, DexoneQ, and Nap OneQ have more than doubled their sales than usual. Morgle One Q, a treatment for sore throat symptoms, and Noseone Q, a treatment for rhinitis symptoms, are also sold more than usual, he said. Pharmaceutical companies that are supplying related products are focusing on expanding production. In particular, it is also confirmed that some pharmaceutical companies have started overproduction to increase supply. An official from Daewon Pharmaceutical, which is selling the OTC Coldaewon series, said, "We are trying to expand production as demand increases rapidly in the field," adding, "In the production plant, the people in charge are even working overtime." The pharmaceutical industry believes that demand for OTC cold medicines and fever reducers has soared before and after the government announced a change in COVID-19 quarantine and treatment guidelines. Analysts say that more and more consumers are trying to prepare OTC cold medicine as a regular medicine to prepare for Omicron mutations. Theaflu, Champ, and Coldaewon are all out of stock Since the 10th, the government has implemented a new quarantine and home treatment system tailored to the characteristics of Omicron's COVID-19 mutation. The main point is that patients under the age of 60 with asymptomatic or mild symptoms should take care of their health on their own without government care. ◆The use of Rx drugs such as antibiotics and spectators used for respiratory symptoms such as is greatly decreasing Although drugs are used for the same respiratory symptoms, they are in contrast to the significant contraction of the prescription drug market such as flu treatments, antibiotics, and spectators. According to UBIST, a pharmaceutical market research firm, the amount of outpatient prescriptions for flu treatments last year was only 46 million won. It is significantly different from 22.5 billion won in 2019 and 8.8 billion won in 2020. In fact, it is evaluated that the flu treatment market has disappeared. The flu treatment has undergone the most dramatic change since the spread of COVID-19. After the spread of COVID-19, the number of flu patients dropped sharply due to strengthening personal hygiene management such as washing hands and wearing masks. The same is true of changes in sales of antibiotics. Last year, the amount of outpatient prescriptions for oral Cephalosporins was 194.6 billion, down 8.0% from the previous year. It fell 28.2% from 27.1 billion won in 2020. Cephalosporin drugs, also called Cepha, are widely used for pneumonia, sore throat, tonsillitis, and bronchitis. Last year, the prescription size of oral PCN was 105.2 billion won, down 15.7% from the previous year. It decreased 40.8% in two years from 182.2 billion won in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak. An official from the pharmaceutical industry said, "The sluggish prescription market for infectious disease diseases is prolonged due to the prolonged COVID-19, but paradoxically, the OTC market is booming due to the surge in COVID-19 confirmed patients."
- Company
- Drug pricing negotiations for ‘Xospata’ complete
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 15, 2022 05:54am
- The new leukemia drug ‘Xospata’ has crossed the final barrier to reimbursement in Korea. According to industry sources, Astellas Pharma Korea completed drug pricing negotiations for its acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment Xospata (gilteritinib) with the National Health Insurance Service. Accordingly, if the agenda passes the Health Insurance Policy Deliberative Committee meeting in February, Xospata may be reimbursed from the following month (March). Astellas has opted for the pharmacoeconomic evaluation exemption track to receive reimbursement for Xospata and therefore will be reimbursed under the Expenditure cap type of the Risk Sharing Agreement (RSA). The drug, which was approved in March 2020, has passed the National Health Insurance Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee in September last year and started negotiations with the NHIS in the same year. After failing to reach an agreement within the set negotiation period (60 days), the company was finally able to reach an agreement this time after extending the deadline once. Interest in Xospata’s reimbursement is high as such a treatment option has not existed before. The Korea Alliance of Patients' Organization had delivered its position requesting the rapid reimbursement of new drugs including Xospata at the meeting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Division of Pharmaceutical Benefits. Hui-Jae Kim, Professor of Hematology at Seoul St.Mary’s Hospital said, “Xospata’s approval relieved AML patients of the specific anxiety of having to suffer their condition without a proper treatment available. Of course, its cost remains an issue, but I expect the drug to quickly settle as the standard of care after being listed for reimbursement.” Meanwhile, Xostapa is the first FLT inhibitor approved by the MFDS for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an FLT3 mutation (FLT3mut+). The drug targets both types of FLT3 mutations, FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD, and can be self-administered at home as a single oral tablet once daily without frequent hospital visits. Also, Xostapa has improved efficacy compared with existing chemotherapy. In addition, Xostapa has received a ‘Category 1’ recommendation for patients with relapsed or refractory AML with an FLT3 mutation in the latest NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines.
- Company
- The next Saxenda? Companies race to occupy GLP-1 RA market
- by Feb 15, 2022 05:54am
- GLP-1 class drugs are taking over the obesity treatment market. With ‘Saxenda’ in the lead, pharmaceutical companies in Korea and abroad are racing to catch up with Novo Nordisk, while the company is working to bring another improved GLP-1 analogue into the market. According to industry sources on the 14th, pharmaceutical companies in Korea and abroad are busy developing obesity treatments using GLP-1 analogues. Lilly is spurring up the development of its product in the market currently occupied by Novo Nordisk, with Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Humedix in Korea also conducting research. ◆Novo Nordisk spurs up development of an improved product based on Saxenda’s success Novo Nordisk is conducting domestic clinical trials for the injection-type and oral-type formulation of its long-acting GLP-1 analogue, ‘semaglutide.’ For the semaglutide injection that was approved in September, a Phase IIIb clinical trial is being conducted on 150 Asians with the Body Max Index (BMI) standard set at ‘25㎏/㎡or higher’ in line with the local obesity standard. The semaglutide injection being studied is ‘Wegovy,’ which has been approved by the US FDA in June last year. Then in November of the same year, a Phase IIIa trial was approved for an oral formulation of the injected semaglutide on 198 overweight or obese East Asians. The oral semaglutide is the first modified GLP-1 analogue formulation made by Novo Nordisk. The drug was approved by the US FDA as ‘Rybelsus’ in September 2019 and is being reviewed for approval in Korea as a diabetes treatment. Previously, Novo Nordisk had made a breakthrough in the obesity treatment market with its GLP-1 analogue. The company had changed the dosage of its GLP-1 analogue ‘Victoza’ that is used to treat diabetes and transformed it into the obesity treatment ‘Saxenda.’ Immediately upon its release, Saxenda rose to the top in the domestic obesity treatment market in 2018. In only 2 years since the release, its sales exceeded 30 billion won. According to the pharmaceutical research institute IQVIA, Saxenda’s sales recorded 36.8 billion won in 2020. Before Saxenda, ‘Belviq (lorcaserin)' and phentermine and phendimetrazine class antipsychotics were commonly used to treat obesity. Among these drugs, Belviq withdrew from the market, and sales of ‘Qsymia’ that combined phentermine and topiramate have surged recently. The reason why Saxenda gained popularity despite being an injection was in its relatively less amount of side effects. Drugs that had previously led the obesity treatment market were banned due to safety issues. ‘Reductil (sibutramine)’ and ‘Belviq (lorcaserin)’ have both withdrawn from the market due to cardiovascular and carcinogen risk. Patients are also required to exercise caution in the long-term use of antipsychotics like phentermine and phendimetrazine due to the risk of CNS side effects such as depression and insomnia. A Novo Nordisk official said, “Developing an obesity treatment is more difficult than other chronic diseases because maintaining the lost weight is as difficult as losing the weight. Novo Nordisk aims to close the gap between anti-obesity drugs and metabolic surgery through long-acting, combination drugs, etc.” ◆Lilly fiercely chases Novo Nordisk… Hanmi attempts at a winning bid with 'efpeglenatide' Lilly, which had been at the forefront of the race in developing GLP-1 analogues in diabetes, is at the other end of the race and is chasing Novo Nordisk in the obesity treatment market. This is because Lilly’s long-acting once-weekly GLP-1 analogue ‘Trulicity’ has a stronghold over the diabetes treatment market but does not own an indication for treating obesity. As a result, Lilly is looking to overtake the obesity treatment market with its next-generation GLP-1 analogue, its dual GIP, and GLP-1 receptor agonist ‘tirzepatide.’ GIP is a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion that works with GLP-1 to increase the weight loss effect. Tirzepatide’s diabetes indication is anticipated to be approved within this year by the US FDA. The drug has ranked No.2 among most-marketable drugs this year that was selected by the global biopharmaceutical market research institution, Evaluate Vantage. Domestic pharmaceutical companies have also jumped into the competition. Hanmi Pharm intends to apply its once-weekly administered GLP-1 class 'efpeglenatide' to obesity as well as diabetes. Currently, the company completed a global phase III trial for efpeglenatide on patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Although slow to enter the competition, Humedix also started developing its own GLP-1 analogue. Humedix has signed an agreement with HLD to jointly research and develop a long-lasting injection for obesity treatment in August last year. Yuhan Corp is also developing a GDF15 inhibitor to compete with GLP-1 analgogues. Its candidate drug YH34160 binds specifically the GDF15 receptor that is mainly present in the brain to induce weight loss through appetite suppression. The company plans to complete the preclinical toxicity test on YH34160 within the year.
- Company
- Takeda, Boehringer, & AZ were selected as the Best Companies
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 15, 2022 05:53am
- .Three Korean subsidiaries have been selected as the 2022 Global Top Employment Company. Boeringer Ingelheim, and AstraZeneca Korea were selected as "the best hiring companies" by setting extraordinary efforts and examples for welfare and employee competency development. Among them, Takeda was listed by Korean subsidiaries for the sixth consecutive year, and Beringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca for the third consecutive year. Takeda received positive reviews every year for supporting various programs for employee competency development, such as strength-based coaching culture and horizontal open communication. Boeringer Ingelheim's headquarters has also been selected as one of the world's top 11 employment companies this year for the second consecutive year, and has also been certified as the best employment company in the Asia-Pacific region (ASEAN, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand). In the case of AstraZeneca, it received high scores in terms of flexible performance evaluation and reward system, online and offline hybrid working environment designed to enable smooth two-way communication, and diversity and inclusive culture. Meanwhile, the world's best employment company is organized by "horizontal open communication," a world-class personnel management evaluation agency, and annually surveys employment status and discloses a list of companies. In order to be certified as the "global best employment company," it must be certified as a "top employee" at branches in more than 20 countries in four regions, including the company's global headquarters.
- Company
- Changes in sales and marketing of companies
- by Moon, sung-ho Feb 15, 2022 05:53am
- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues for more than three years, changes are also taking place in academic sales and marketing of pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies are competitively holding events for doctors on a rich theme and scale comparable to academic conferences of medical associations. This is a self-rescue measure due to the decrease in promotional activities, such as the prolonged COVID-19 and the transition of academic conferences to online conferences. According to the medical and pharmaceutical industries on the 10th, it was confirmed that more and more domestic pharmaceutical companies are holding large-scale "online symposiums" reminiscent of major medical conferences. The first case of introducing this is Dong-A ST's Korea Disease Week (KDW). It looks like an academic conference held by major domestic academic societies, but it is an online symposium held by Dong-A ST itself. In terms of size, it is as good as the academic conferences of existing academic societies. The period lasted for a week, and in addition to existing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, various experts related to cardiovascular disease were invited to form a large-scale academic feast, which received great response last year. When the KDW was held last year, an average of 2,100 doctors per day and a total of 10,500 doctors participated in the event. It is said that it was much more than the number of people participating in the general academic conference event. Dong-A ST is pushing for its second hosting in June. Domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Daewon Pharmaceutical are also competitively striving to hold online symposiums for their own doctors. In the case of Daewon Pharmaceutical, an academic event was held under the name AGORA WEEK in a similar way to Dong-A ST's KDW, while Daewoong Pharmaceutical also decided to hold an academic event for doctors under the name of Dowong Medical Festival (DMF). Another common point is that they are trying to expand the area of "online platform" for their doctors by holding such large-scale academic events. In particular, Daewon Pharmaceutical has a strong purpose of promoting the operation of an online platform (D·Talks, Detox) for doctors earlier this year. Likewise, Mediflicks and Doctorville use their own operating online platforms in common. At the same time as the academic symposium is held, the video is provided so that doctors can check it at any time by using the platform themselves.
- Company
- The era of personalized healthcare has arrived
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 14, 2022 05:54am
- Optimal treatment for each patient differs by one’s genetic mutation. With this discovery, anticancer therapies targeting individualized genes have emerged one after another, and the field of precision medicine is evolving from ‘disease-targeted’ to ‘gene-targeted’ prescriptions. In particular, anticipation in the field is rising with the nearing possibility of prescribing NTRK(Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase) inhibitors and the introduction of RET-targeted therapies in Korea. ◆'Rozlytrek ' and 'Vitrakvi' Roche Korea’s 'Rozlytrek (entrectinib)’ and Bayer Korea’s ‘Vitrakvi (Larotrectinib)’ are undergoing processes to receive insurance benefits in Korea. These two drugs, which are aiming to receive reimbursement through the pharmacoeconomic evaluation exemption track, have passed deliberations by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee last year but are yet to reach an agreement with the NHIS in their drug pricing negotiations. The drugs are indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients who have an NTRK gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation; are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity; have either progressed following treatment or have no satisfactory alternative therapy. In other words, the drugs may be used in most NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumors. Roche and Bayer are generating prescription codes for their drugs at major medical institutions to allow the drugs to be prescribed immediately upon reimbursement. ◆'Gavreto' and 'Retevmo' Rozlytrek’s developer Roche is also undergoing the approval process for its other tumor-agnostic therapy 'Gavreto (pralsetinib),’ and Lilly Korea for its 'Retevmo (selpercatinib).’ The two drugs are expected to be approved within the year. The drugs, which target RET(Rearranged during transfection) gene fusions, inhibit the primary as well as the secondary mutation that causes resistance to anticancer treatments and are expected to address the unmet needs in various cancers. Retevmo, which had been quicker, became the first-ever RET inhibitor to receive approval. Retevmo was approved in May 2020, and Gavreto in September of the same year by the US FDA. Retevmo was approved for the two indications of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and thyroid cancer. Gavreto was initially approved as a treatment for lung cancer, then added a thyroid cancer indication in December of the same year. Although the drugs were initially approved for lung cancer and thyroid cancer, the companies plan to further increase the scope of indications for their RET inhibitors. RET gene fusion is discovered rarely in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Gavreto and Retevmo are also expected to take the PE exemption track to receive reimbursement listing in Korea. Kyong-Hwa Park, Professor of Hemato-Oncology at Korea University Anam Hospital said, “There needs to be a reimbursement track established for precision medicine in Korea. I can’t imagine the distress and deprivation the patients would feel if a precision medicine drug is available with NGS screening but cannot be accessed due to systemic issues."
- Company
- Saxenda is also effective for childhood obesity
- by Feb 14, 2022 05:54am
- Saxenda of Novonodisc, a drug that can be used in children and adolescents, has emerged as an option for the first time. Effective weight loss is expected to help treat obesity in children and adolescents, but the fact that there is little data on Koreans should be supplemented. Novonodisc held a " Saxenda expansion of Pediatric Adaptation Meeting" at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 10th and pointed out the meaning of treating obesity in children and adolescents. Saxenda (Liraglutide), a GLP-1 analog, obtained an indication for pediatric and adolescent administration from the MFDS in December last year. The targets are children and adolescents aged 12 or older who are obese with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/㎡ or higher in adults and weigh more than 60 kg. In SCALE TEENS clinical trials conducted for 56 weeks on 251 obese children and adolescents worldwide, Saxenda showed a significant weight loss effect. 74% of the Saxenda-administered group showed weight loss (28% of the placebo group), and the proportion of pediatric and adolescent patients who lost weight by more than 5% was 43%, significantly higher than that of placebo countries. The proportion of patients with weight loss exceeding 10% was 26% (8% of placebo group). At week 56 after discontinuation of the drug, the Saxenda group gained some weight, but nevertheless maintained a significant difference from the placebo group. Professor Lee Young-joon of Pediatrics and Adolescents at Korea University Ansan Hospital (General Director of the Korean Pediatric Endocrine Society), who was in charge of the presentation, commented that Saxenda will be able to help effectively lose weight at a time when childhood obesity increases. This is because so far, the drug treatments available to children and adolescents have been limited. Unlike adults, children and adolescents could only use Xenical, Metformin or Phentermine for a short period of time for those over the age of 16. Professor Lee said, "In the case of children and adolescents, parallel therapy with drug treatment is considered if it does not improve even with the improvement of primary lifestyle improvement is considered. Surgery is strictly restricted, he said. "I think Saxenda can be used as a breakthrough treatment option because it guarantees a relatively safe 5% weight loss effect." Saxenda has the disadvantage of including only two Asians in clinical trials that served as the basis for approval as a treatment for obesity in children and adolescents. Considering that there are differences within BMI from race to race, it is questionable whether it can have the same effect in Koreans. Professor Lee also said, "Only two Asians were included. Research on new drugs in children and adolescents is limited. Previously, other drugs tried clinical trials for children and adolescents, but they were suspended because they were not recruited, he explained. He then advised, "We need to build up Real World Data while carefully using Saxenda in Korea."
- Company
- Successful renewal of RSA contract for Keytruda
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 11, 2022 05:56am
- Keytruda, an immuno-cancer drug, succeeded in renewing its RSA contract for the first time in half a year. According to related industries, MSD Korea signed an RSA renewal with the NHIS last month for indications such as NSCLC therapy, which is currently covered by PD-1 low-release Keytruda. Keytruda, which contract expired in August last year, recently passed HIRA's Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee, coupled with the expansion of benefits for indications such as primary therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. As a result, Keytruda will remain covered for five years. If the benefit is successful, the corresponding indication will also be added. Meanwhile, Keytruda has been challenging the government for about five years to receive primary lung cancer therapy benefits. It passed the committee on the 13th of last month, and finally negotiated with the NHIS. Keytruda, released in 2015, is an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor that inhibits "PD-1" protein on the surface of immune cell T cells to block binding with PD-L1 receptors and treats cancer through activation of immune cells. In Korea, 18 indications for Keytruda were approved for 14 carcinomas, including melanoma, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. Keytruda's quarterly sales remained around 3 billion won immediately after its release, but sales have risen since August 2017 when insurance benefits were applied as a secondary treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Sales are likely to surpass 200 billion won last year. Keytruda also posted $12.6 billion (15 trillion won) in cumulative sales in the third quarter of this year in the global market.
- Company
- Prodrug for Forxiga patent dispute ruling has been postponed
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 11, 2022 05:55am
- Forxiga The second trial ruling on the patent dispute between Dong-A ST and AstraZeneca over Forxiga, a diabetes treatment based on SGLT-2 inhibitors, has been postponed. The Patent Court's 5-2 Court postponed the date of the judgment on the trial decision cancellation suit filed by AstraZeneca against Dong-A ST from the 10th to the 17th. The court seems to have been worried in that it was the first case in Korea to try to overcome material patents using a "prodrug" strategy. Prodrug is evaluated as a different drug, such as an original drug. The original drug and chemical structure differ in some parts of the substituent until immediately before taking it after the drug is produced. However, when a patient enters the body after taking it, it has the same effect as the original drug. In terms of principle alone, it is similar to salt change, but the difference is clear. The salt can be converted into a simple ionic bond. The chemical structure of the substance itself does not change. Prodrug has to change the substituent in a more demanding way called covalent bonds. The chemical structure is different from the original drug. In this regard, the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (first trial) interpreted prodrug as a new drug different from the original drug and sided with Dong-A ST. The pharmaceutical industry believes that if Dong-A ST wins the second trial following the first trial, the prodrug strategy will be a new breakthrough in overcoming material patents. It is predicted that another attempt will be made to overcome material patents through prodrucg development. Attention is also being paid to whether Dong-A ST will be able to release generic for Forxiga alone. Other generics in Korea can launch after April 2023, when the Forxiga material license ends. Dong-A ST has applied for permission for Forxiga's Prodrug last month. If Dong-A ST wins by the second trial following the first trial, it is predicted that it will enjoy the effect of preoccupying the market in for Forxiga's generic market. Dong-A ST has its own DPP-4 inhibitor-based diabetes treatment, Suganon and Sugamet. Securing SGLT-2-based drugs with Forxiga's Prodrug is expected to create considerable synergy in the diabetes treatment market. According to UBIST, a pharmaceutical market research firm, Suganon and Sugamet's outpatient prescriptions amounted to 32.6 billion won last year. Forxiga posted 42.6 billion won in prescription last year.
