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- 2025-12-25 12:25:17
- Company
- Hugel's Letybo has been approved in France
- by Feb 07, 2022 05:57am
- Hugel announced on the 3rd that it has obtained an item license for botulinum toxin formulation Letybo from the ANSM on the 27th of last month (local time). Earlier on the 25th, Hugel received an opinion from the HMA to approve Letybo's item license. Upon receipt of the opinion, Hugel entered a national phase to enter 11 European countries, including France, Britain, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Starting with this approval, Hugel aims to ship Letybo within the first quarter and launch it in major local markets. This is the first case of Korean botulinum toxin formulations entering Europe. Hugel plans to complete its entry into 36 European countries by next year based on its entry into 11 major countries this year. An official from Hugel said, "As major countries are expected to complete the approval process quickly starting with France, we will do our best to enhance the status of the Korean medical aesthetic industry in the local market by spreading treatment solutions for healthy beauty to European practitioners and consumers."
- Company
- Samsung BioLogics acquired ₩2.8 trillion stake in Epis
- by Ji Yong Jun Feb 07, 2022 05:57am
- View of Samsung BioLogics Plant 3 (Photo = Samsung BioLogics)Samsung Biologics will acquire all of its shares in Samsung Bioepis held by its partner Biogen. Stock purchase funds are raised through a paid-in capital increase in shareholder allocation. Samsung BioLogics announced on the 28th that it has decided to acquire all 10,341,852 shares of Samsung Bioepis held by Biogen in the U.S. for $2.3 billion (about 2.7655 trillion won). Of the $2.3 billion cost of purchasing a stake in Samsung Bioepis, the acquisition price will be paid in installments over the next two years, excluding $50 million in "earn-out" costs, which will be additionally paid if certain conditions are met after the contract is signed. The contract will take effect from the time the first payment of $1 billion is completed. Biogen invested 15% of its stake when Samsung Bioepis was established in 2012. In June 2018, Biogen chose a call option to take over 9,226,068 shares of Samsung Bioepis held by Samsung Biologics. Biogen paid $700 million to Samsung Biologics, adding 50,000 won per share and interest. As a result, Samsung Biologics and Biogen shared 50%+1 shares and 50%-1 shares of Samsung Bioepis, respectively. Samsung Biologics also decided to raise 3 trillion won in paid-in capital. The paid-in capital increase will be carried out in the form of a general public offering for forfeited shares after allocation of shareholders, and the number of issued shares is 5,009,000 shares. Samsung Biologics plans to use 1.798 trillion won of the funds flowing into the paid-in capital increase as facility funds, and the remaining 1.2024 trillion won as funds to acquire shares in Samsung Bioepis. Under the decision to purchase the stake, Samsung Biologics will secure 100% of Samsung Bioepis shares. The company predicted that the acquisition of shares will accelerate preparations for the bio business. This is because the autonomy and agility of decision-making are improved compared to the current equity structure, which can quickly promote mid- to long-term growth strategies such as the development of new pipelines, open innovation, and new drug development of Samsung Bioepis. Samsung Bio's business has secured ▲CAPA No. 1 Samsung Biologics' CDMO business, ▲Samsung Bioepis' ability to independently develop proven biosimilar products, and ▲ the possibility of entering the new drug business, laying the foundation for a leap into a "global pharmaceutical company". Samsung Bioepis is currently recognized for its competitiveness by launching a total of five biosimilar products, including three autoimmune disease treatments and two anticancer drugs, and one more is about to be released with permission, and four biosimilars are in phase 3 clinical trials. The global biosimilar market is expected to continue to grow more than 8% annually from $10 billion in 2021 to $22 billion in 2030. The antibody biosimilar market, which Epis focuses on, is expected to grow about 11% annually, leading the growth of the biosimilar market. Samsung Biologics is currently constructing its fourth plant, the world's largest biopharmaceutical plant, and MultiModal Plant, which can produce various biopharmaceuticals at one plant, is also set to begin construction by the end of this yeear. Samsung Biologics plans to complete an additional 350,000㎡ site contract for the second campus, which is larger than the site currently in use (270,000㎡), at Songdo District 11 in Incheon, by the end of this year.
- Company
- Lorviqua can be prescribed at general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 04, 2022 05:57am
- Preparations have begun for the prescription of Lorviqua, a third-generation ALK that seeks to register insurance benefits. According to related industries, Lorviqua of Pfizer Korea passed DC of medical institutions such as Gangnam Severance Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chung-Ang University Hospital, and Hanyang University Hospital, as well as Samsung Medical Center and Seoul National University Hospital. It is aiming to settle down in the market quickly in case it succeeds in registering salaries. Lorviqua, which first passed the HIRA's cancer disease review committee in January 2022, is currently waiting for the introduction of the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee. Since Lorviqua is a drug with strength in resistance, it is believed that it will be possible to attract prescriptions quickly if the registration is made. It remains to be seen whether Pfizer, the first developer of ALK anticancer drugs, will be able to increase its market share. It was designated as a rare drug in March last year and was approved in Korea for use in cases where Alecensa or Zykadia was previously treated with primary ALK inhibitors or Xalkori and at least one other ALK inhibitor as a monotherapy for adult ALK NSCLC patients in July. Lorviqua, a third-generation drug, can be an alternative to patients who have developed resistance since Xalkori, a first-generation drug, and Zykadia and Alecensa, a second-generation drug. If Xalkori is used in the first-line therapy, Lorviqua can be prescribed after using the second-generation drug, and if the second-generation drug is used, Lorviqua can be used in the second-line therapy. Until now, chemotherapy had to be used because there was no targeted treatment available for secondary drug resistance. Resistance mutations that appear mainly after second-generation drug treatment are G1202R, and depending on the drug, they also appear in F1174L (Zykadia), I1171T/N/S (Alecensa), and E1210K (Alunbrig). Lorviqua is effective in all known resistant mutations. Meanwhile, Lorviqua recently added a non-small cell lung cancer's first-line therapy indication in Europe. The approval was based on the results of a phase 3 CROWN study. In this study, Lorviqua demonstrated improvement efficacy in indicators such as mortality risk and ORR compared to Xalkori.
- Company
- SK Bioscience appoints former BMS lead Pa-leun Kim as VP
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 04, 2022 05:57am
- VP Pa-leun Kim SK Bioscience is making continued efforts to strengthen the company’s capability by recruiting talents to make the leap forward and become a global vaccine company. According to industry sources, SK Bioscience appointed Pa-leun Kim (44), former Lead at Bristol-Myers Squibb Korea, as its Vice President of Communication and Government Affairs. The company had been stepping up efforts to develop its COVID-19 vaccine while expanding its CMO business with the appointment of CEO Jae-Yong Ahn (54) in April last year. In addition to expanding its manufacturing facilities, the company has also been recruiting new talent in various areas since last year. The company's R&D personnel alone increased by 30% last year. VP Pa-leun Kim had served in the Office of the Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs at Cheong Wa Dae for 5 years since 2008 before starting his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 2013 at GSK Korea. At GSK, Kim was in charge of the company’s general communications and government affairs, promoted Fluarix Tetra’s release in Korea, and led Consumer Healthcare CGA and Communication & Government Affairs. After moving to BMs, Kim continued to accumulate extensive experience in public affairs and government affairs serving as the lead of Government Affairs & Policy. Kim acquired a bachelor’s degree in International Politics at The University of Sheffield, and a Master of Science in Forced Migration and Development Studies at Oxford University. SK Bioscience signed a CMO contract with AstraZeneca to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine drug substance and the finished product in July 2020. In August of the same year, the company also signed a CDMO agreement with Novavax to develop and manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine. After signing a technology transfer agreement with Novavax in February last year, the company secured the rights to manufacture and sell Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine and is also developing its COVID-19 vaccine NBP2001 and GBP510 (with aluminum adjuvant AS03).
- Company
- Organon Korea's Cozaar XQ will be resupplied
- by Feb 04, 2022 05:56am
- Original product for Losartan can be reproduced and prescribed in early February. Organon's HTN treatment Cozaar XQ, which was suspended due to detection of impurities above the standard last year, will be resupplied at the end of this month. Organon (CEO Kim So-eun) announced on the 27th that it will be able to re-supply Cozaar XQ from the end of this month and prescribe it from early February. Cozaar XQ, the original product, was suspended from shipping after an impurity test conducted in November last year detected more than the standard level. No impurities were detected in the same Losartan, Cozaar and Cozaar Plus. Organon replaced Cozaar XQ with French raw materials such as Cozaar and Cozaar Plus to reproduce. Normal products will begin to be supplied at the end of this month. An official from Organon said, "The Coza family, such as Cozaar and Cozaar Plus, is an original Losartan distributed through strict quality management systems and demanding production processes by global pharmaceutical companies Organon, and Cozaar also produced Azido with undetected original Losartan." Organon added that it is making every effort to be prescribed without a hitch from February through the rapid supply and demand of Cozaar XQ. In addition, the symposium Re-launching Cozaar XQ will be held in six cities in Seoul, Suwon, Daegu, Daejeon, Busan and Gwangju from February to March. Along with the results of non-detection of impurities in the Cozaar family, Organon plans to emphasize initial therapy in patients with second stage hypertension who need to be administered with a combination to reach their treatment target blood pressure.
- Company
- Sales of Statin/Ezetimibe have surpassed ₩600 billion
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Feb 03, 2022 05:57am
- In the dyslipidemia treatment market, a combination of Statin + Ezetimibe is gaining explosive popularity. The annual prescription market has more than quadrupled over the past five years, exceeding 600 billion won. Rosuvastatin +Ezetimibe is leading the market growth. According to UBIST, a pharmaceutical research institute, the amount of outpatient prescriptions for Statin +Ezetimibe was 609.9 billion won, up 23.1% from the previous year. It increased 52.3% in two years from 40.4 billion won in 2019. It showed rapid growth every year from 136.9 billion won in 2016 to 345.4% in five years. Sales of Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe are forming the largest market. Last year, the prescription amount of Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe was 436.3 billion won, up 18.8% from the previous year. The market size has more than tripled in five years from 56 billion won in 2016. Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe account for 71.5% of Statin and Ezetimibe market. The market for Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe began in 2015 when Hanmi Pharmaceutical launched Rosuzet. Rosuzet recorded a prescription performance of 123.2 billion won last year, up 17.4% from the previous year, contributing the most to the expansion of Statin and Ezetimibe markets. Hanmi Pharmaceutical has secured the right to use Ezetimibe from MSD and has recorded high growth rates since entering the market before its competitors, ranking first in the same ingredient market. Rosuzet ranked second among all medicines. For the first time in 2020, it exceeded 100 billion won in prescriptions and was named the "100 billion won club" for the second consecutive year. Last year, it ranked second in prescription amount after Lipitor among all medicines. A total of 10 companies recorded more than 10 billion won in prescriptions last year, playing a role as a cash cow. Yuhan Corporation's Rosuvamibe rose 7.8% from the previous year to 62 billion won in prescriptions last year. HK inno.N, GC Pharma, Daewoong, Huons, Jeil, Kyung Dong, Hutechs, and Myungmoon recorded more than 10 billion won in prescription amount in the Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe market last year. Last year, Atorvastatin-Ezetimibe market showed great growth. The prescription amount of Atorvastatin-Ezetimibe was 128.8 billion won, up 55.6% in a year from 82.8 billion won in 2020. With the release of a huge number of Atozet's generics, the market size expanded in a short period of time. MSD's Atozet was the only one generic until 2020. Since last year, the size of the market has risen significantly as more than 100 domestic companies have joined at the same time. In October 2020, Chong Kun Dang's Lipilouzet went through a clinical trial in October last year and was approved. At this time, 22 companies' generics for Lipilouzet were approved and were listed from April last year. Since February last year, 88 additional pharmaceutical companies' generic for Atozet have started to be approved. Since January 22, when Atozet's review period expired, it has been approved for sale simultaneously since applying for permission and registered in May, a month later than generic for Lipilouzet. As Korus Pharm and Mirae Pharm were approved for generics for Atozet in June last year, the number of domestic companies that have entered the Atozet market over the past year has increased to 113. Sales of Simvastatin+Ezetimibe slowed down. Last year, the prescription amount of the Simvastatin+Ezetimibe was 43 billion won, down 5.3% from the previous year. It is down 23.6% from five years ago. Simvastatin+Ezetimibe, the original product of MSD's Vytorin, was first released in Statin-Etimibe market, but its growth is stagnant. Amount of outpatient prescriptions for Statin + Ezetimibe by year (unit: 100 million won, data: UBIST)
- Company
- Hepatitis C market in decline due to superior treatment
- by Ji Yong Jun Feb 03, 2022 05:56am
- The hepatitis C treatment market had contracted for two consecutive years since 2020. The annual decline in the number of hepatitis C patients and the introduction of effective drugs is analyzed to have caused the contraction. According to the market research institution UBIST on the 29th, outpatient prescription of hepatitis C treatments recorded ₩35.1 billion last year, which was a 26.1% decline from the previous year. This is one-fourth the ₩135.2 billion that was made in outpatient prescriptions in 2017. The market had been declining for the past 4 years, reducing 45.5% to ₩73.7 billion in 2018, then to ₩65 billion in 2019, and to ₩47.4 billion in 2020. (DATA=UBIST)The overall market contraction was due to the reduced prescription of the market’s lead product, Abbvie’s ‘Mavyret.’ Mavyret sold ₩26.3 billion last year, a 26.4% reduction from the 26.3 billion in the previous year. Mavyret is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) that was introduced in the market in the fourth quarter of 2018 that may be prescribed to all hepatitis C genotypes and has a cure rate of 99%. The drug can be taken once daily in 3 tablets with food, and its administration period is 8 weeks, 4 weeks shorter than other treatments. Mavyret had stood out in the market due to this differentiated effect at the time of its release, and sold ₩7.5 billion in prescriptions in only three months after its release. In 2019, prescriptions soared to ₩44.5 billion, transforming the market. However, since 2020, its prescription amount recorded ₩35.7 billion and fell 21.8% from the previous year. This is due to the characteristic of hepatitis C treatments. Hepatitis C is transmitted through exposure to an infected person’s blood. Many are asymptomatic and patients find out their condition after disease progression, 80% of which develops chronic hepatitis C, and 20% to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Also, the number of Hepatitis C patients has been decreasing every year. According to the National Health Insurance Services, 8.647 new patients have been diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2020. This is an 11.5% annual decrease in average from the 14,087 diagnosed in 2016. With the number of patients reducing every year as such, the industry interprets that the market had to contract due to the introduction of a novel new drug that can fully cure the condition. Also, other drugs have seen a decline in sales or withdrew from the market due to the introduction of Mavyret. Gilead Science’s ‘Sovaldi’ sold 77% less than the previous year to record ₩210 million last year. Sovaldi had been the lead product in the hepatitis C treatment market before the introduction of Mavyret. Just in 2017, outpatient prescription of Sovaldi recorded ₩84.3 billion. For example, sales of Abbvie's ‘Viekreia’ and ‘Exviera’ dropped sharply to reach an uncountable amount from 2020. However, outpatient prescriptions of Sovaldi fell over half to ₩37.7 billion the next year. In 2019, it once again dropped 89.7% from the previous year to record ₩3.9 billion. Prescription of Gilead’s other hepatitis C treatment ‘Harvoni’ decreased 14.7% from the previous year to ₩8.1 billion. This is over a half reduction from the ₩17.6 billion in 2017. Another hepatitis C treatment, MSD’s ‘Zepatier’ was released in the second quarter of 2017, and recorded ₩30 billion in outpatient sales by 2018. However, its demand fell sharply from the following year, losing the competition to Mavyret and Sovladi. Last year, outpatient prescriptions for Zepatier recorded ₩430 million, a 61% drop the previous year. BMS’s ‘Daklinza’ and ‘Sunvepra’ withdrew from the Korean market. The two products had recorded a 15% share in the Hepatitis C treatment market in 2017, then continued to lose their share to Mavyret and Sovladi. The products were discontinued supply in 2020, and BMS voluntarily withdrew the marketing authorization of the two products in March last year.
- Company
- Competition in the narcolepsy tx market is expected
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 03, 2022 05:56am
- Competition for prescription of drugs that prevent sleepiness and manage so-called narcolepsy has begun. According to related industries, competition with Teva Handok's Nuvigil (Armodafinil) is expected as Wakix (Pitolisant) of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma will be applied from next month (February). Wakix is a counteractive and antagonist that selectively binds to histamine H3 receptors and is a new mechanism for increasing histamine concentration in the brain. Nuvigil, an active isomer of the sleep attack treatment Provigil, is a drug that promotes awakening by activating dopamine in the brain and improves the duration of existing drugs. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is currently undergoing prescription procedures at major medical institutions nationwide, including the Big 5 hospitals, ahead of the launch of the benefit. Nuvigil, listed in September 2018, can be prescribed at medical institutions nationwide, including Seoul National University Hospital, Sinchon Severance Hospital, and Samsung Medical Center. Narcolepsy is currently included in a rare and intractable disease, and 10% of patients' coverage is applied. Meanwhile, narcolepsy is a sleep disorder disease characterized by abnormal expression of sleep-wake cycle confusion and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep due to the loss of neurons that produce a neurotransmitter called Hypocretin in the brain. Representative symptoms include Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy, in which REM sleep is expressed in an awakening state.
- Company
- An unexpected story by Organon and Viatris
- by Jan 28, 2022 05:58am
- Organon and Viatris' patent expired drugs remain powerful. Although questions have been raised about the growth engines of the two independent corporations after receiving "old drugs" from MSD and Pfizer, it is evaluated that it is as good as in Korea. ◆Organon's Atozet and Cozaar's outpatient prescription is 250 billion won According to UBIST, a drug research institute, on the 28th, Organon, which was launched in June last year, exerted the power of patent-expired drugs. Last year, Organon's outpatient prescription estimate was 252.4 billion won. This is the sum of the outpatient prescriptions for items transferred to Organon among MSD products. It accounts for 58% of the 437.5 billion won prescription for MSD. The amount of outpatient prescriptions for Organon products grew 5.4% compared to 239.4 billion won in 2016. Organon is a company spun off from MSD. It took over Atozet, Cozaar, Singulair, and Nasonex, which are "Old Drugs." Most of Organon's products showed growth even though they were patented expired drugs that compete with generic products. Atozet is a large item that recorded 86.8 billion won in outpatient prescriptions last year. The number of prescriptions more than tripled over the past six years from 24.7 billion won in 2016. Due to the expiration of patents in January last year, the release of more than 100 generics also rose 4.9% from the previous year. Cozaar is an old drug that has been 25 years since its launch, and when generic was released in 2008, sales of 70 billion won collapsed. However, sales of prescriptions have been on the rise again recently. It increased 15.8% from 25.7 billion won in 2016 to 29.7 billion won last year. In particular, Cozaar is one of the products that did not exceed the standard value during the Losartan impurity crisis last year. The amount of prescriptions surged in December last year as demand flocked to the original due to concerns over impurities.Organone also has Propesia, a hair loss treatment. It is widely used not only for prostate hypertrophy treatment but also for hair loss treatment as a non- reimbursed drug. It is estimated that it generates more than 40 billion won in sales in Korea. ◆Lipitor, 22 years since its launch, 200 billion won in sales Founded in November 2020, Viatris posted the largest number of outpatient prescriptions among multinational pharmaceutical companies last year. Viartris' outpatient prescription amount last year was 463.9 billion won, up 15.8% from 40.5 billion won in 2016. Although it decreased 0.3% from the previous year, it is good compared to the 2 to 7% drop in prescriptions by many multinational pharmaceutical companies amid prolonged Corona. Viatris is a company merged with Pfizer Upjohn and Mylan, a Pfizer patent expiration business. Lipitor, Novasc, Lyrica, Cerebrex, and Viagra have been transferred to Viartris. Lipitor has been 22 years since its launch, but it has been recorded as the most prescribed drug for the fourth consecutive year. Lipitor recorded 205.2 billion won, an increase of 0.7% last year, after surpassing 200 billion won in outpatient prescriptions in 2020. The scale has increased 23.4% from 2016. Celebrex, a COX-2 inhibitor, also recorded 46.3 billion won in outpatient prescriptions, up 3.6% from the previous year. At one time, the prescription amount fell to 36.5 billion won due to the launch of generic and the subsequent drop in drug prices, but has recovered to around 40 billion won since 2018. Lyrica and Norvasc, which were released in 2006 and 1991, are still paying nearly 70 billion won in outpatient prescriptions. The two products, worth 60.1 billion won and 62.6 billion won in 2016, respectively, grew 16.3% and 10.3% over six years. ◆ Price competitiveness and domestic business network When generics such as salt change items are released, the market share of original drugs drops rapidly. However, in the domestic market, despite the intensive check of generics, original drugs that expire patents are showing off their robustness. Due to the nature of the drug price system in Korea, generic's price competitiveness is low, so the original is advantageous for expanding its market share. Market sales of patent-expired drugs have been established more firmly due to the sales price of domestic pharmaceutical companies. Viatris' Lipitor, Lyrica, and Celebrex are jointly sold by Jeil. Organon's Atozet is co-sold by Chong Kun Dang.
- Company
- The NOAC market with ₩230 billion is fluctuating
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jan 27, 2022 05:44am
- Lixiana, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis (clockwise from the top left)The NOAC market, which has grown to 230 billion won, has fluctuated due to generic drugs. After the Supreme Court ruling, Eliquis enjoyed reflective benefits as generics were withdrawn altogether. On the other hand, in the case of Xarelto, as generic products were released one after another due to the expiration of material patents, it seems to have slowed down somewhat. Lixiana maintained its No. 1 position in the market last year by repeating rapid growth. It was found that prescription performance decreased for the fourth consecutive year due to the prolonged slump in Pradaxa. ◆ Lixiana's annual prescription amount of increased by 16% year-on-year According to UBIST, the size of NOAC's external prescription market last year is estimated at 231.9 billion won. It increased by 10% from 211.1 billion won in 2020. NOAC is attracting attention as a drug with a lower risk of bleeding side effects and a greater thrombus prevention effect than Warfarin, a conventional anticoagulant. Sales have been rising since the early 2010s, replacing Warfarin. Market growth was led by Daiichi Sankyo's Lixiana and BMS' Elliquis. Sales of Lixiana recorded 84.8 billion won last year. It increased 16% from 72.9 billion won in 2020. Lixiana was the last NOAC to enter the market. While other NOACs were licensed in Korea from 2009 to 2011, Lixiana was licensed in 2015. It was then released in January 2016. Although it is generics, synergy with domestic partners is one of the reasons why it was able to quickly settle down as the No. 1 market. Daiichi Sankyo has joined with Daewoong Pharmaceutical since the launch of Lixiana. Lixiana quickly settled in the NOAC market due to the joint sales strategy of the two companies, and has topped the market since 2019, three years after its launch. Lixiana's annual prescriptions amounted to 4.8 billion won in 2016, 20.9 billion won in 2017, 39.5 billion won in 2018, 61.9 billion won in 2019, 72.9 billion won in 2020, and 84.8 billion won in 2021. Considering the current upward trend, it may exceed 100 billion won at the end of this year. ◆This is due to a 19% increase in the prescription amount of Eliquis, and generic withdrawal after the Supreme Court ruling Eliquis then ranked second in the NOAC market. Eliquis' prescription amount last year was 65.2 billion won, up 19% from 55 billion won in 2020. It is analyzed that the withdrawal of generic had a significant impact on the nearly 20% increase in Eliquis' prescription performance. In April last year, the Supreme Court overturned the previous first and second trials in a patent lawsuit surrounding Eliquis and sided with BMS, the original company. Shortly after the ruling, generics withdrew from the market. This is because BMS announced a claim for damages due to patent infringement. Generic companies won Eliquis' material patent trial in February 2018. It also won the second trial in March of the following year. Based on this ruling, Chong Kun Dang and Yuhan Corporation have launched a series of generics since June 2019. Generics posted a prescription of 1.2 billion won in 2019. In 2020, generic prescriptions increased to 9.4 billion won. However, due to last year's Supreme Court ruling, the prescription amount shrank to 5.4 billion won. Inventory supplied to retailers and others is also believed to have been completely exhausted. ◆Generic for Xarelto was released due to the expiration of the patent Last year, Xarelto's prescription amounted to 59.6 billion won. It increased by 4% from 57.3 billion won in 2020. Although it has increased slightly. In the case of Xarelto, it recorded an average annual growth rate of 14% for four years from 2016 to 2020. One of the reasons why Xarelto's prescription performance has slowed down is the launch of the generic. Many generics have been released around the expiration of Xarelto material patents (October 2020). Since then, a total of 1.6 billion won has been paid by the end of last year. Chong Kun Dang's strategy to preoccupy the market is drawing attention. Chong Kun Dang launched the generic in May 2020, before the Xarelto material license expired. Prior to this, Xarelto's material patent was requested for a passive trial to confirm the scope of rights. It launched the generic on the premise of winning Xarelto's material patent trial. Analysts say Chong Kun Dang has made a winning move to preoccupy the market. It is analyzed that Chong Kun Dang's winning strategy worked to some extent. Last year, the prescription amount of Chong Kun Dang's Riroxia was 1.2 billion won. Considering that the total amount of generic prescriptions from the remaining 16 companies was only 400 million won, the strategy of launching generic about five months earlier than other companies won. There is a possibility of losing the patent lawsuit. If Chong Kun Dang finally loses the patent suit against Bayer, patent infringement is recognized. At this time, large-scale compensation for damages is inevitable. Currently, Chong Kun Dang is waiting for the second trial ruling after losing the first trial. ◆Pradaxa prescription sales declined for the fourth consecutive year, and copromotion with Boryung ended Another NOAC, Pradaxa, is prolonged sluggishness. Pradaxa's prescription amount last year was 15.2 billion won, down 8% from 2020. If the scope is expanded, it has been steadily decreasing since 2017. It includes KRW 21.6 billion in 2017 to KRW 19.6 billion in 2018, KRW 18.7 billion in 2019, and KRW 16.5 billion in 2020. Beringer Ingelheim selected Boryung Pharmaceutical as a partner to make up for the slump. The two companies launched a joint sale of Pradaxa in 2018. However, Pradaxa's performance did not rise despite the addition of Boryung Pharmaceutical. Eventually, at the end of last year, Beringer Ingelheim and Boryung Pharmaceutical terminated the co-promotion contract under mutual agreement.
