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- 2025-12-26 15:39:16
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- Delstrigo seeks reimbursement to join the HIV drug market
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 05, 2021 05:51am
- MSD’s HIV new drug Delstrigo has started the National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement application process. The pharmaceutical industry reported, MSD Korea has submitted an application for the NHI reimbursement on an once-daily fixed-dose combination tablet Delstrigo (doravirine / lamivudine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) treating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The South Korean authority approved Delstrigo as a treatment for HIV-1 infection in adults with no prior antiretroviral treatment experience. One of the combined agents, doravirine received South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approval as of Nov. 22, 2019, with a brand name of Pifeltro. The drug is indicated to be administered with another antiretroviral agent. Both Pifeltro and Delstrigo are indicated to treat HIV-1 infection in adults with no prior antiretroviral treatment experience. A Phase III DRIVE-AHEAD trial confirmed Delstrigo’s non-inferior efficacy compared to efavirenz (EFV)-emtricitabine (FTC)-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). At week 48, 84 percent of the Delstrigo-administered patient group reached the viral suppression of HIV-1 RNA less than 40 copies/ mL, whereas 80 percent of the EFV-FTC-TDF group reached the level. As for clinical adverse reaction suspending the treatment, 3 percent and 6.6 percent of the patient groups reported adverse reactions, respectively, showing Delstrigo group had lower risk of adverse reactions. Currently, Gilead, GSK, MSD, Janssen, AbbVie and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) are competing in the HIV treatment market in South Korea, while Gilead and GSK are dominating 90 percent of the market share.
- Company
- Viatris’ Korean subsidiary has changed the name to Viatris
- by Feb 04, 2021 10:22am
- The Korean corporate name of the global healthcare company Viatris group will be officially changed to Viatris Korea from the 1st. Viatris’ Korean subsidiary (CEO: He-young Lee) was launched in November 2020 by combining Upjohn, a business division of global Pfizer, and Mylan, a global healthcare company. As the procedure for changing the domestic corporation name was recently completed, the company name changed from Pfizer Upjohn Korea to Viatris Korea from the 1st. Viatris is derived from the Latin words ‘via,’ meaning path, and ‘tris,’ which means three. Viatris Korea said, "The company's core value is expanding patient access to medicines, Leadership leading innovative healthcare solutions, and Trusted Partnership. We want to be a healthcare company that helps people live healthier in every stage of their lives." Viatris' major portfolio comprises more than 1,400 approved substances, including branded products, Rx drugs , generics, biosimilars, and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for non-infectious and infectious diseases. Viatris Korea plans to provide quality treatments for non-infectious diseases such as cardiovascular, neuropathy, psychiatry, urology, and ophthalmology in the future, while reinforcing efforts for healthier lives for patients with non-infectious diseases. Based on the global product portfolio, it is planning to introduce various product portfolios and pipelines required by domestic patients such as new products in the field of infectious disease treatment including respiratory, biosimilars such as anti-cancer fields, and general medicines. An official from Viatris Korea said, "Viatris Korea provides innovative health solutions to patients and health care professionals, manages diseases and improves awareness, and provides various CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) campaigns, including healthy aging campaigns. And we will contribute to the development of the healthcare industry and a healthy Korean society through various partnerships with the medical community, academia, government agencies, and NGOs."
- Company
- Eisai Parkinson’s disease drug Equifina listed and launched
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 04, 2021 06:08am
- Eisai’s Parkinson’s disease treatment Equifina has been released to the South Korean market on Feb. 2 with the National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) notice issued on Jan. 29 granted the NHI benefit on Equfina (safinamide) as an adjuvant treatment to levodopa for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients, as well as the nursing insurance reimbursement for using the drug within its approved label and general principles of anti-Parkinson’s disease treatment. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) authorized the treatment on June 24, 2020, as a once-daily oral add-on therapy to levodopa for patients with Parkinson’s disease. A new third-generation monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor, working dual mechanism on dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurotransmission, Equfina conducted a Phase III trial and demonstrated a significant efficacy in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor fluctuation. Mostly, levodopa is used as a standard of care in Parkinson’s disease, but the drug has reportedly shown 75 percent risk of complications when used for over five years. And apparently, Equfina, as an add-on to levodopa, increases the drug effect period that could wear off if administered for a long term. A Phase III SETTLE study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Equifina in patients with Parkinson’s disease showing motor fluctuation symptoms, and confirmed the drug significantly improving the “on” time in patient group who have taken the drug for 24 weeks, compared to the placebo group. Equifina has also proved to reduce the “off” time of levodopa, and shortened the “off” time of the other combined drug regardless of the drug type or severity of the motor fluctuation symptoms. In the SETTLE study, the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) was given out to the participating patients to assess their quality of life, and the group administered with 50-100 mg per day showed changes of -3.17 from the baseline, which was an improved result compared to -0.68 in the placebo group. Another Phase III trial, Study 016 also found statistically meaningful result of PDG-39 in Equifina-administered group (100 mg) compared to that of the placebo group. Particularly in the mental wellbeing questionnaire, the Equifina group’s changes from the baseline to week 24 marked -5.14, which improved compared to the placebo group. CEO Koh Hong-byung of Eisai Korea noted, “By releasing Equifina, I am happy to provide a new treatment option to Parkinson’s disease patients in South Korea, who were short of treatment options. And as we launch the drug with the healthcare benefit, we hope to lessen the financial burden on those patients in South Korea.”
- Company
- Stomach ulcer drug rebamipide market makes over KRW 100 bln
- by An, Kyung-Jin Feb 03, 2021 06:10am
- The impurity contamination in ranitidine was discovered in 2019 has in turn expanded a gastritis treatment rebamipide market. Although the market was sluggish for a long time, rebamipide prescription surged and broke through the 100 billion won point last year. The impurity contamination incident impacted the entire stomach disorder drug market including H2 receptor antagonist, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and wormwood-induced natural medicine. A pharmaceutical market research firm UBIST reported on Feb. 2, the rebamipide prescription market last year generated 110.6 billion won, growing by 14.8 percent compared to the year before. The market’s annual growth has been stagnating around 4 percent, marking 85.4 billion won, 88.2 billion won and 91.9 billion in year 2016 through 2018, respectively. But the figure soared 20.4 percent last year compared to two years ago. Rebamipide treats gastroduodenal ulcers by increasing the blood flow in the stomach mucous to protect them. The substance is also indicated to treat stomach ulcer and enhance mucosal defense. About three decades ago, Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical released an original Mucosta, and 239 generics entered the market since 2003. Regardless of the expanded options, the prescription volume did not change significantly. But similar to PPI and wormwood-induced natural medicine, the industry experts say the rebamipide market benefited from the impurity contamination incident. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) banned the sales of all products of H2 receptor antagonizing antiulcer drug ranitidine due to unacceptable amount of cancerous N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) found in late September 2019. Ranitidine drugs used to form a large market making about 180 billion won annually as of 2018. But the overall sales ban drove the prescribers to seek after other drugs with similar indications. The analysis on quarterly prescription volume of rebamipide found the volume started increasing from the fourth quarter of 2019. In the third quarter of 2019, the rebamipide drug prescription generated 21.5 billion won only, but it leapt to 29.6 billion won as of 2019 fourth quarter. Although patients avoided visiting hospitals amid COVID-19 last year and the general prescription volume faltered, the quarterly rebamipide prescription volume was maintained at around 27 billion won. The prescription volume by item showed fluctuating differences. Generally, the generics had more significant increase in prescription. The original Mucosta’s prescription fell 5.5 percent last year, despite making 17.3 billion won, compared to the year before. The best-selling generic Samjin Pharm’s Bamedin prescription also fell by 3.3 percent last year compared to the previous year and marked 4.6 billion won. Meanwhile, Huons’ Mucoramine prescription soared by 61.9 percent compared to the year before and narrowed the gap with Bamedin. KyungDong Pharmaceutical’s Rebamide prescription volume grew 11.8 percent from the year before and marked 3.8 billion won, when CMG Pharmaceutical’s Remipid and Celltrion Pharm’s Rebat grew by 11.3 percent and 35.8 percent, respectively. The industry projects the rebamipide market competition would get even more intensified this year with extended release products launching. Four South Korean companies like Yuhan Corporation, GC Pharma, Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Daewon Pharmaceutical won the health authority’s approval on extended release rebamipides late last year. And the authority also granted approval on Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Mucosta SR tablet last month. Although some of their indications differ from each other a bit, the administration convenience improved from three times a day to twice-daily.
- Company
- Pfizer's Vizimpro can be prescribed at general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 03, 2021 06:09am
- Pfizer's EGFR TKI and Vizimpro are now available in general hospitals with insurance benefits. According to related industries, Vizimpro (Dacomitinib monohydrate), a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), listed in December. It passed the drug committee (DC) of general hospitals such as International St. Mary's Hospital, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, NCC, SMC, KCCH, Konyang University Hospital, Kosin University Gospel. Hospital, and Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital. Vizimpro is a second-generation EGFR mutant-positive non-small cell lung cancer targeted anticancer drug that was designated as a priority review by the US FDA in January 2018 and was approved in September of the same year. Currently, it is prescribed in the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Vizimpro was approved in Korea as a first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer in February this year. It has indications for the treatment of locally advanced or NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) with an EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutation with no previous experience. In Korea, the first-generation drug AstraZeneca's Iressa (Gefitinib), Roche's Tarceva (Erlotinib), Giotrif (Afatinib), and AstraZeneca's Tagrisso (Osimertinib). EGFR TKI is being prescribed, and Leclaza (Lazertinib) was recently approved. Giotrif, a competing drug has already settled in the market, Vizimpro chose a track to skip drug price negotiations. It passed the HIRA's Cancer Drugs Benefit Appraisal Committee in July last year, passed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in October, and succeeded in listing in December. From this year, fierce competition among the first and second generation EGFR TKIs is expected for the first line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. The listing of insurance benefits in the first-line therapy of Tagrisso and Leclaza is also of interest. The effectiveness of Vizimpro was proven through ARCHER 1050, a phase III clinical trial. The study directly compared Vizimpro with the first-generation drug IRESSA((Gefitinib), and a total of 452 non-small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled. As a result, Progression-Free Survival (PFS) reduced the risk ratio by 41% compared to Iressa, and the median PFS value was 14.7 months for Vizimpro, ahead of 9.2 months for the Iressa group.
- Company
- Menarini Korea presents Fulcare's digital campaign video
- by Feb 03, 2021 06:09am
- Fulcare’s new digital campaign capture Menarini Korea (CEO Hyeyoung Park) announced on the 2nd that it is releasing a new digital campaign video 'Re, Start Again' of Fulcare, a treatment for nail athlete's foot. The new campaign was planned as part of Fulcare's brand campaign 'Clear Again' from 2020. By emphasizing the keyword 'again' by focusing on 're' at the back of Fulcare's English spelling, it tried to deliver a message of support to consumers to overcome COVOID-19 and start again in the new year. The video for the new digital campaign was produced in two versions, 'Exercise Edition' and 'Hobby Edition'. In the daily life that had been withdrawn from COVID-19 for a while, it contained a message to regain healthy and clear nails with Fulcare's triple solution, along with narration and video to start over with small movements or hobbies. At the end of the video, a message was added to support the Korean pharmacists who are working in the field to take responsibility for the health of the local community despite the difficult situation of COVID-19. The new video was released on various online media including Fulcare's YouTube channel from the 1st. Menarini Korea marketing manager said, "Our daily life has changed over the past year due to the COVID-19 Incident. We will be conducting this campaign with the aim of re-starting the new year of 2021 with Fulcare hopefully. In 2021 we hope that Fulcare's triple solution, which has strengths 1, 2, and 3 for penetration, protection, and growth promotion, for patients in need of treatment for athlete's foot will be able to recover their daily life from athlete's foot and clear nails." Fulcare is OTC that can be purchased at pharmacies. Fulcare's own global patented technology, ONY-TEC technology, has the convenience of applying once a day without the need to grind or wipe the nails, making it easy to manage athlete's foot. It has been strengthening its position as a brand specializing in athlete's foot by launching 'Fulcare Plus Cream', a special treatment for athlete's foot.
- Company
- Profitable lazertinib makes 5-year income for Oscotec
- by An, Kyung-Jin Feb 02, 2021 06:25am
- Product image of Leclaza For last couple of years, Oscotec has generated 57 billion won from licensing out a new drug candidate. The South Korean company earned more than five years of income by selling a profitable new drug candidate to Yuhan Corporation. On Jan. 26, Oscotec announced Yuhan Corporation would pay out USD 22.1 million (approximately 24.8 billion won) out of the license-out milestone payment received from Janssen Biotec. The expected transaction would be processed within three months from the official announcement. The company explained, “The income is from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapy candidate license-out deal signed with Yuhan Corporation in 2015. 40 percent out of the total milestone payment would be paid out to both Oscotec and a subsidiary company Genosco.” The payment Oscotec announced is for Janssen reaching the milestone of administering the combination of the company’s own dual anticancer treatment amivantamab and an EGFR targeted therapy lazertinib licensed in from Yuhan to initiate a Phase III trial. Lazertinib is the main substance of Yuhan’s non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment Leclaza approved as the 31st new drug developed in South Korea. Oscotec and its subsidiary Genosco inked 1.5 billion won worth of a license-out deal with Yuhan in July 2015 for the EGFR targeted therapy candidate lazertinib. Within 30 days of the contract signing, the upfront payment of 1 billion won was received, and 500 million won is to be paid out after Yuhan’s Phase I clinical protocol is cleared. In the contract, Yuhan added a term to split the income 60 to 40 for the upfront payment and the clinical milestone payments from the global pharmaceutical company licensing out the candidate medicine. Yuhan took over the development rights on lazertinib in the preclinical trial phase, and licensed out the drug in November 2018, after optimizing the substance, designing the pipeline and undergoing the preclinical and clinical trials in South Korea. The deal is valued at maximum 1.26 billion dollars (approximately 1.5 trillion won) covering the initial contract payment of 50 million dollars and phase-by-phase milestone payments. Yuhan has earned total of 150 million dollars for last two years from licensing out lazertinib. Janssen provided 35 million dollars for achieving the milestone of initiating the global Phase I/II trial with a combination of amivantamab and lazertinib in last April. Also another 6.5 million won was given to Yuhan in last November for starting a global Phase III trial on the combination therapy. During the process, Oscotec also improved its income significantly. Oscotec received the upfront payment of 17 million dollars from Yuhan as the Janssen’s upfront contract payment went through in 2018. And as of the second milestone, additional 34 million dollars were paid out from splitting the income. The lazertinib license-out deal basically generated 51 million dollars (approximately 57 billion won) in last two years for the initial contract and further development. In five years from 2015 through 2019, Oscotec has made 48.9 billion won. The license-out deal signed six years ago generated more than the five-year income in just two years. The industry highly anticipates positive effect in Oscotec’s income structure based on lazertinib progressing smoothly. Janssen is also expediting the global Phase III clinical trial on amivantamab and lazertinib combination as the company confirmed a positive outcome during the initial clinical trial. In last December, the company applied for amivantamab Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA), and it also aims to complete the New Drug Application (NDA) for lazertinib by 2023. Besides Janssen’s progress, Yuhan is also independently conducting a global Phase III trial on lazertinib.
- Company
- COX-2 inhibitors recover and grow 56% in 5 years
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 02, 2021 06:25am
- The prescription volume of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibiting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seems to be increasing rapidly. A major product Celebrex (celecoxib) had its pricing cut by half after its patent was expired in 2015, but the prescription volume soared by 56 percent in five years until last year. The industry experts say the increased prescription frequency canceled out the decreased pricing. While the original Celebrex is still going dominating the market by annually making 40 billion won, 100 or so generics have doubled the prescription volume in five years and made a 65-billion-won market. However, other follow-on originals like Acelex (polmacoxib) and Arcoxia (etoricoxib) are making disappointing performance with narrow indication. ◆Half-priced COX-2 inhibitor prescription volume soars by 56% On Jan. 28, a pharmaceutical market research firm UBIST reported the COX-2 inhibitor NSAID market reached the volume of 112.9 billion won as of last year. Compared to 113.5 billion won recorded in 2019, the market shrunk by 1 percent, but considering the last six years, the market has been growing at a remarkable rate. The market size marked 72.3 billion won in 2015 grew by 11 percent, 7 percent, 19 percent and 11 percent in 2016 at 80.2 billion won, 2017 at 85.8 billion won, 2018 at 102.2 billion won and 2019 at 113.5 billion won, respectively. Except for 2017, the market has been making a two-digit growth annually until 2019. Considering the star product of the market Celebrex got its pricing halved to 53.55 percent since the patent expiration in June 2015 and a series of generic launched at similar pricing, the prescription volume itself has almost tripled. ◆20 years in South Korean market, Celebrex still generated 40 billion won The market is predominantly filled with celecoxibs. As of last year, the original Celebrex and celecoxib generics took up 36 percent and 57 percent of the market, respectively. In fact, Celebrex’ market presence is still substantial as it made 40.6 billion won last year, regardless of the patent expired five years ago. Although compared to the previous year (44.3 billion won), the prescription volume dropped 8 percent, but the market experts analyze it was due to the drug’s temporary shortage. Celebrex was out of stock for about two months last year due to delayed manufacturing schedule from February. Launched for the South Korean market in 2000, Celebrex prescription volume peaked in 2014 with 70 billion won. But the volume plummeted to 58.8 billion won the following year as the patent expired, and it continued to drop to 40.2 billion won and 36.5 billion won in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Mainly the generics entering the market and pricing cut caused the steep drop in the volume. Since 2018, however, the drug gained back the prescription volume up to 40 billion won. Releasing higher dose, expanding indication and healthcare providers’ high demand for the original seem to have affected the recovery. As the generic pricings were leveled with the off-patent original, the healthcare providers are firmly demanding for the original. ◆Over 100 generics released, the prescription volume doubles in five years Celebrex generic prescription volume was doubled in just five years. As soon as the patent expired in June 2015, 60 companies released their celecoxib generics. And as of late last year, over 100 companies are apparently supplying generics. The total prescription volume of the generics was at 64.9 billion won. Compared to 32.1 billion won in 2016, it is more than twice as much. While the COX-2 inhibitor market volume shrunk by 1 percent last year, the generic prescription was increased by 7 percent. The top selling generics were as follows; Samjin Pharm’s Klicox (4.2 billion won), Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Coxib (4.2 billion won), Korea Arlico Pharm’s Celcobrex (3.5 billion won), Chong Kun Dang’s Coxbito (3.1 billion won), and Hutecs Korea Pharmaceutical’s Cybrex (2.5 billion won). ◆Original Acelex and Arcoxia generate below 5 billion won each Other original COX-2 inhibitors—Acelex and Arcoxia—are showing rather underwhelming performances. Acelex is a domestically developed new drug by Crystal Genomics. It emerged to the market in August 2015 and Dong-A ST handles the local sales. The two companies have signed a 8.5-billion-won exclusive local sales deal. But from 2018, Daewoong Pharmaceutical joined the force to accelerate the Acelex sales. The company was in charge of small and medium hospitals with 300 and less beds, whereas Dong-A ST marked general hospitals. Acelex’ prescription volume was at 4.2 billion won, 5.8 billion won, 4.9 billion won and 5.5 billion won in 2016 through 2019, respectively. The volume plummeted by 24 percent last year and made only 4.2 billion won. MSD’s Arcoxia is also underperforming. Ever since an older version of COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx was delisted from the market due to adverse reaction reports, MSD ambitiously launched Arcoxia as a follow-up. To avoid concerns on safety, the multinational company also conducted a clinical trial in South Korea as well. But its prescription generated 3.7 billion won, 5.7 billion won, 5.6 billion won, 3.4 billion won and 3.3 billion won in 2016 through 2020. The industry says the two originals’ limited indications are widening the prescription volume gap between Celebrex, and Acelex and Arcoxia. Currently, Acelex and Arcoxia are only indicated to treat osteoarthritis, when Celebrex is indicated to treat rheumatoid arthritis, ankylsoing spondylitis, primary dysmenorrheal and acute pain.
- Company
- MSD Korea reaches collective agreement with union
- by Feb 02, 2021 06:25am
- On Jan. 28, MSD Korea CEO Kevin Peter (right) and Labor Union Head Shim-sang Nam-won (left) sign the first collective agreement with negotiation representatives. MSD Korea (CEO Kevin Peters) announced the company reached a collective agreement with the labor union on Jan. 28 before fully splitting off Organon Korea. This marks the first collective agreement settled since the establishment of MSD Korea Labor Union. And the company noted that it was a mutual collaborative outcome of the management and the union before the split-off takes place. MSD Korea CEO, HR manager, MSD Korea Labor Union head and their negotiation council participated in the collective agreement signing ceremony held at MSD Korea headquarters and inked the final agreement. Under the agreement, both parties settled on 77 terms regarding the employee benefits and the working conditions. The agreed terms would be carried on to the new spin-off subsidiary Organon Korea. Moreover, the two parties confirmed for the last time that they would make mutual collaborative efforts to successfully launch the spin-off company. MSD Korea has decided to pay out incentive of 15 million won to each employees reassigned to Organon Korea to welcome them to the new environment. The labor union also promised to cooperate as much as possible during the corporate restructuring process. MSD Korea CEO Kevin Peters addressed, “I am exhilarated to see that the company and the labor union have come to an agreement after persistently engaging in conversation to make MSD Korea the best place to work and grow. Based on the outcome, MSD Korea would focus on our task at hand making the future changes for the Koreans’ healthy lives.” In last February, MSD announced its plan to spin off a subsidiary Organon. The spin-off company aims to seek global leadership and sustainable growth for the future of women’s health based on the diverse cardiovascular, urologic, respiratory, dermatology and women’s health portfolio. By concentrating on oncology, vaccine, hospital-acquired disease and diabetes, MSD plans to significantly enhance the market presence as the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Organon Korea is to kick off from this month in South Korea as a subsidiary of MSD until the global split off process is completed, which then the new company would be a full-fledged independent company from the latter half of the year.
- Company
- KRPIA appoints Oh Dong-wook Chairman & new BOD is launched
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 01, 2021 06:16am
- Along with the appointment of a new chairman, there have been significant changes in the KRPIA’s BOD. On the 27th, the KRPIA announced that, after Avi BenShoshan, former CEO of MSD Korea, Oh Dong-wook, CEO of Pfizer Korea, was elected as the 14th chairman and will lead the association from February 2021. The KRPIA plans to newly launch a new board of directors (BOD), such as the Vice Chair and Director. Sang Pyo Kim, CEO of AstraZeneca Korea and Javed Alam, CEO of Merck Korea, were appointed for the Vice Chair, arising from the appointment of President Oh Dong-wook and the appointment of former GSK Korea CEO to the head office by Julien Samson. Kay Bae, CEO of Sanofi-aventis Korea maintains the Vice Chair. Status of the KRPIAFour new CEOs of multinational companies were newly appointed to the board. Alberto Riva, CEO of Lilly Korea, Kim Jinyoung, CEO of BMS Korea, Kevin Peters, CEO of MSD Korea, and Joshi Venugopal, CEO of Novartis Korea, were included in the new board of directors in 2021. The CEOs of Lundbeck Korea and Mundipharma Korea, former members of the BOD, were removed due to the change of CEOs. As a result, the KRPIA has been transformed into a Korean chairman system after 3 years since 2018. However, the number of Koreans decreased from 8 to 7 among a total of 14 directors. There has been a tendency for Koreans to assume the position of president of KRPIA. Former Chairman Avi BenShoshan was a foreign chairman who was elected after 7 years since 2011 after former Pfizer CEO Dong-Soo Lee, former GSK chairman Jin-ho Kim and former CEO Ok Yeon Kim.
