Which drugs will fill Fotagel and Stavic’s void?

Hidrasec and Sulmum Chew return to normal supply after temporary shortages due to rising demand

Demand for dioctahedral smectite alternatives expected to spread… which products will benefit?

Baekcho-DS Syrup and Seolmum Chew demand also expected to rise

The market disruption that arose following the removal of pediatric indications for dioctahedral smectite products is beginning to subside in Korea.

According to local pharmacies and industry sources, supplies of alternative products that experienced a surge in demand after Fotagel and Stavic Suspension were barred from use in children and adolescents have largely returned to normal.

Supplies of Hidrasec, which had temporarily gone out of stock following increased demand after the pediatric indication for dioctahedral smectite products was withdrawn, have now stabilized.

Both the prescription drug Hidrasec and the OTC product Seolmum Chew, which experienced temporary shortages because of the sudden spike in demand, have also normalized.

Samjin Pharm, which distributes Abbott Korea's Hidrasec, said, "Temporary supply instability occurred due to a sudden increase in orders, but both the 10mg and 30mg strengths are now being supplied normally."

Seolmum Chew, which also experienced temporary shortages in line with Hidrasec, has likewise returned to normal supply.

More than 80,000 units of Hanmi Pharmaceutical's Seolmum Chew are currently in stock in the company's HMP Mall, indicating stable supply.

Industry closely watches the shift in demand

The industry is closely watching how demand will be redistributed.

The key question is which alternatives for patients under 19 years of age, who can no longer use dioctahedral smectite products, will benefit the most.

Pharmacist communities expect prescriptions for Hidrasec (racecadotril) to increase.

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A local pharmacist said, "Since Fotagel and Stavic can no longer be prescribed for children and adolescents, prescriptions for Hidrasec are increasing. As it can be used from 6 months of age, it is effectively the only prescription antidiarrheal available for pediatric patients."

Products containing polycarbophil calcium, including Wellcon, Hylcon, Recxil, Silcon, Carcon, and Pilcon tablets, are approved for children aged 6 years and older and are expected to cover much of the market for patients aged 6 to 18 years.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, imports of Hidrasec totaled KRW 984.11 million in 2024 (10mg KRW 377.04 million, 30mg KRW 607.07 million)

Among OTC products, demand is also expected to rise for Baekcho Syrup (licorice extract, gambir 20% ethanol extract, Coptis/Cortex Phellodendri 50% ethanol extract, ginseng fluid extract, cinnamon bark 70% ethanol tincture, Scutellaria root soft extract, and gentian ethanol extract) and Seolmum Chew (berberine tannate, Scopolia extract powder 33%, ursodeoxycholic acid, and bismuth subnitrate), both of which can be used in younger age groups.

A pharmacist practicing near a pediatric clinic said, "With the pediatric indication for dioctahedral smectite removed, the antidiarrheal market is becoming segmented by age group. Even when customers are looking for an over-the-counter antidiarrheal, we now first recommend Baekcho Syrup or Seolmum Chew because they can be used in younger patients."