- LOGIN
- MemberShip
- 2026-03-17 16:20:01
- Company
- The industry is worried about the spread of Omikron
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 18, 2022 05:55am
- The Omicron mutation COVID-19 virus is also hurting factories and research institutes of pharmaceutical bio companies. Concerns are growing over production disruptions as a series of confirmed cases have emerged in Hwaseong Hyangnam Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex and Cheongju Osong Life Science Complex, where pharmaceutical factories are concentrated. According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 15th, a series of COVID-19 confirmed cases have recently occurred in the Hyangnam Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex located in Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is reported that the number of confirmed cases is increasing after the Lunar New Year holiday. Currently, 40 factories of 38 pharmaceutical companies are in operation in the Hyangnam complex. There are 3,500 workers working in the complex alone. Most of them commute from Suwon or Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do. The problem is the spread of COVID-19 in Suwon According to Gyeonggi-do, as of midnight on the 15th, there were 31,894 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suwon. The number of new confirmed cases is 1,387. In the case of Mars, a total of 27,039 people, including 1,589 new confirmed cases. Analysts say that the Hyangnam Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex has also been affected by the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Suwon. The pharmaceutical industry is concerned that if the spread continues, drug production will be disrupted. Currently, most of the factories in the Hyangnam Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex are reported to take self-quarantine measures for a certain period of time for COVID-19 confirmed patients and all departments. In addition to the government's guidelines for self-quarantine of COVID-19 confirmed patients for a week, it is interpreted as a measure to prevent further spread of COVID-19. An official from the pharmaceutical industry working at the Hyangnam complex said, "Unlike the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, the entire factory will not be shut down," adding, "The number of confirmed cases has been increasing recently as the Omicron mutation spreads so rapidly. In particular, there seems to be a series of confirmed cases after the Lunar New Year holiday, he said. He said, "There are places where all employees of the department are quarantined for a week when a confirmed person comes out, and some places take measures not to go to work until the infection of fellow employees is confirmed," adding, "Since the factory cannot work from home, everyone seems to be nervous about whether there will be a confirmed person." The self-quarantine rules have also been greatly strengthened recently, he added. Another pharmaceutical industry official said, "As quarantine is carried out on a team or department basis, if at least one confirmed person comes out, the operation of the line will be disrupted," adding, "Even if workers from other lines return their vacations and are put in, production delays are inevitable." Concerns are also growing at the Osong Life Science Complex located in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. The Osong Life Science Complex currently houses more than 70 companies and research institutes related to medicines, medical devices, cosmetics, and food. About half of them are pharmaceutical bio companies. As of 8 a.m. on the 15th, 710 new COVID-19 confirmed patients were confirmed in Cheongju, Chungbuk, where Osong Complex belongs. Currently, 6,368 people have been confirmed and are in self-quarantine. The pharmaceutical industry predicts that the occurrence of confirmed cases in Osong Complex will also be a matter of time. An official from the pharmaceutical industry said, "The current spread is so fast that there is nothing strange about it even if a confirmed person comes out at any time," adding, "The problem is that it is difficult to find substitute manpower." If there are one or two confirmed cases, it will be okay, but if there are several confirmed cases, it is expected that the production schedule will be tight."
- Company
- The development of next lung cancer txs is in full swing
- by Feb 17, 2022 05:53am
- From the left, Lumakras, Rybrevant & TabrectaStarting with EGFR, treatments have been released. The first dual inhibitor was also released. Non-small cell lung cancer treatment is facing a new turning point with the emergence of various targeted anticancer drugs. Precise treatment began by pioneering areas where there were no treatments, such as KRAS, MET, and EGFR Exon 20. ◆ New KRAS drug in 40 years, 8 global companies will develop For the first time in 40 years this year, a new drug targeting KRAS mutations has emerged. It is Amgen's Lumakras, approved by the MFDS on the 14th. Lumakras can be used as a secondary treatment for KRAS G12C mutation local progression or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer patients show various genetic mutations, and KRAS mutations account for the largest proportion of them. About 25% of the world represents KRAS mutations. In Korea, it is about 5 to 8%. Lumakras succeeded in entering the KRAS field for the first time. The KRAS tumor gene was discovered early in 1982, but it did not lead to the development of a treatment. This is because clinical trials have repeatedly failed due to the complex molecular biological activity mechanism of KRAS. The binding site was also very small, so the development of target materials was a challenge. Starting with Lumakras, KRAS target treatments are expected to appear one after another. This is because many global pharmaceutical companies have entered the development of KRAS-targeted anticancer drugs. Eight companies, including ▲Mirati Theraputics ▲ Novartis ▲ Roche ▲ Boehringer Ingelheim ▲ MSD ▲ Eli Lilly ▲ Sanofi ▲ InventisBio, are conducting KRAS clinical trials in Korea. Among them, Mirati is closely chasing Amgen as the most advanced step. Mirati's Adagrasib is undergoing phase 3 in Korea and is undergoing FDA approval review in the United States. The development of other pharmaceutical companies is in phase 1/2. ◆Dual inhibiton of EGFR and MET have also emerged Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer is facing a new turning point. For non-small cell lung cancer, targeted treatment began with the emergence of Iressa, the first EGFR target anticancer drug, and in 2017, immuno-cancer drugs entered and presented a new paradigm for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, which cannot be used. Recently, the area of anticancer drugs targeting non-small cell lung cancer has increased further. In addition to relatively common KRAS mutations, minority mutations found in less than 3% of all patients can be detected. Janssen's Rybrevant, which was approved by the MFDS on the 15th, shows a clear difference from the existing EGFR targeted anticancer drugs. It aimed at a blind spot called Exon 20 insertion mutation, not Exon 19 defect and L858R substitution mutation, which are common in EGFR. EGFR Exon20 insertion mutation non-small cell lung cancer is rarely found as the third most common mutation among EGFR mutations. Rybrevant is clearly different in that it targets not only EGFR but also MET variations. With the approval of Rybrevant, the EGFR target anticancer drug market is also expected to change. Already, in the EGFR area, third-generation drugs represented by Tagrisso and Leclaza through the first and second generations are becoming standard treatments. Although it remains in the second treatment due to clinical problems in Korea, global guidelines have already recommended the third generation Tagrisso as the top priority treatment. A new anticancer drug that directly targets MET gene mutations also appeared for the first time last year. It is Novartis' Tabrecta and Merck's Tepmeko. Both drugs, which were approved by the MFDS side by side in November last year, can be used in patients with local progressive or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose MET exon 14 deficiency was confirmed. MET mutation is also one of the genetic mutations caused by non-small cell lung cancer. The adverse reactions in the MET gene are largely divided into MET amplification and MET mutation, and the MET exon14 defect targeted by Tabrecta and Tepmeko is a representative MET mutation. Targeted anticancer drugs targeting RET genes are also expected to be released soon. Roche and Lilly are undergoing domestic approval procedures for their own Gavreto and Retevmo. These drugs can inhibit primary mutations in the RET gene as well as secondary mutations that cause anticancer treatment resistance. The incidence of RET mutations in non-small cell lung cancer is reported to be around 2%.
- Company
- Seqirus “to supply next-gen influenza vaccine” in Korea
- by Feb 17, 2022 05:53am
- A new competitor has entered the influenza vaccine market. Seqirus, a subsidiary of the Australia-based biotech firm CSL, will be entering the Korean market in earnest in the COVID-19 pandemic. Seqirus Korea held an online press conference to celebrate the official launch of its Korean subsidiary on the 16th. At the conference, Seqirus threw its hat into the Korean flu vaccine market with its self-developed next-generation vaccine. At the conference, Gee-Seung Yoo, CEO of Seqirus Korea said, “Our global office is deeply interested in the significance and potential held by the Korean market. With our official launch, we hope to establish various partnerships in Korea.” Seqirus is a vaccine company parented by the Australia-based pharmaceutical company CSL. The company is known for its extensive influenza vaccine portfolio that covers a wide range of egg-based, cell culture-based, adjuvanted vaccines. Its vaccines, which are produced in 5 global vaccine manufacturing facilities, are supplied to over 20 countries including the UK, Australia, the US, and Canada. Seqirus planned its entrance into the Korean market due to COVID-19. As the Korean vaccine developer, SK Bioscience was unable to manufacture its influenza vaccines due to the manufacture of consigned COVID-19 vaccines. As egg-based flu vaccines cannot be used on patients with egg allergies, the Korean government had to urgently bring in Seqirus’ vaccine due to this temporary gap in cell culture-derived influenza vaccines that had been solely produced by SK Bioscience in Korea. Using the opportunity as momentum, Seqirus made the decision to start directly supplying its egg-based Afluria that had been marketed through Boryung Biopharma until then. Seqirus has extensive vaccine development experience that goes back over 100 years. It owns both egg-based and cell culture-derived flu vaccines and became the first company in the US to receive approval for an adjuvanted flu vaccine in 2020. With the launch of its subsidiary in Korea, Seqirus plans to introduce its cell culture-derived flu vaccine ‘Flucelvax’ and its adjuvanted flu vaccine ‘Fluad’ in Korea. The company is known to have high expectations for its adjuvanted flu vaccine. General flu vaccines can be less effective in immunocompromised elderly, or when the vaccine strain does not match with the one in circulation, or due to egg adaptations, etc. In such cases, adjuvanted flu vaccines can improve immune reactions and increase the prevention effect. Seqirus’s adjuvanted flu vaccine ‘MF59’ uses squalene that is produced in the liver. MF59 induces an immune response in the injection site and promotes antigen uptake to increase immune response by activating T cells and B cells. Jonathan Anderson, Medical Head of the International Region of Seqirus said, “The use of adjuvants triggers a broader and stronger antigen response and induces longer antigen response. If the MF59 that was first applied to a trivalent vaccine is applied to a quadrivalent vaccine, we will be able to achieve a strong antibody response even with a small amount.” In addition, Seqirus plans to develop various next-generation influenza vaccines including high-dose adjuvanted cell culture-derived vaccines and mRNA vaccines. Gee-Seung Yoo, CEO of Seqirus Korea said, “As Korea’s healthcare partner, Seqirus Korea will be at the forefront of the to protect public health from influenza viruses. We will work our best to promptly introduce and supply the company’s various vaccines in Korea.”
- Company
- Roche's Polivy can be prescribed at Big 5 hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 16, 2022 05:51am
- The new lymphoma drug Polivy can be prescribed at the Big 5 General Hospital. According to related industries, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, and Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Polivy, which combines with existing BR therapy (Bendamustine & Rituximab) for treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lympoma (DLBCL) with a poor prognosis. In the case of Severance, the code was generated with emergency DC. However, Polivy is still a non-reimbursed drug. Roche submitted an application for registration of Polivy's insurance benefits in February last year, but failed to pass the HIRA Cancer Disease Review Committee in April of the same year. Roche plans to continue his efforts to register Polivy in the future. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma belongs to aggressive lymphoma that requires immediate treatment due to the rapid progression of the disease. More than half of patients have a good treatment response rate to reach remission, but 30% to 40% of patients do not respond to the standard therapy R-CHOP or experience recurrence even after primary treatment. Although most patients experience recurrence within two years and have a only six-month survival period if they recur, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has been an area that lacks effective treatment options. Polivy is the first ADC drug to target CD79b and has a mechanism that binds to CD79b expressed in B cells to induce apoptosis. Polivy confirmed its effectiveness through a phase 1b/2 that confirmed the clinical effectiveness and safety of Polivy combination therapy in 80 patients with recurrent or refractory giant B cell lymphoma who could not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and had more than one treatment experience. The drug was also designated as a rare drug in Korea in October last year. As a result of the study, the Polivy combination therapy group showed higher Complete Response (CR) and Overall Survival (OS) extensions than the BR group. Ko Young-il, a professor of hematologic oncology at Seoul National University Hospital, said, "Polivy confirmed its usefulness through clinical trials and is a treatment option recommended in international guidelines, which is meaningful in that it has suggested a new alternative to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treatment." Peter Welford, an analyst at investment bank Jefferies, analyzed in a memo to investors that if Polivy is used for DLBCL indications, it could achieve sales ranging from at least $2.1 billion to up to $2.4 billion.
- Company
- GC Pharma & SK Bioscience are competing
- by Ji Yong Jun Feb 16, 2022 05:51am
- From the left, GC Pharma Barycela and SK BioscienceGC Pharma's Barycela challenges the international procurement market. Competition among domestic companies in the international procurement market for chickenpox virus vaccines is likely to begin in earnest. SK Bioscience seems to be challenging first while undergoing the World Health Organization (WHO) certification process for overseas sales of GC Pharma's new chickenpox vaccine. According to the industry on the 15th, SK Bioscience made its debut in the international procurement market for chickenpox vaccines on the 14th. SK Bioscience received a preliminary notice from PAHO about $31.27 million worth of chickenpox vaccine orders. SK Bioscience will supply Sky Varicella, a chickenpox vaccine, to the Latin American market from 2022 to 2024. PAHO, along with UNICEF, is the largest vaccine consumer. SK Bioscience plans to introduce Sky Varicella to various international procurement markets in the future as it passes the PAHO bid. Sky Varicella was released in 2018. In multinational global clinical trials, including Latin America, immunity and effectiveness in children aged 12 months to 12 years have been confirmed. The chickenpox vaccine from global pharmaceutical companies was used as a control group to prove the level of safety equivalent to that of excellent antibodies. As a result, SK Bioscience and GC Pharma competed in the chickenpox vaccine international procurement market. GC Pharma has dominated the international procurement market with Suduvax. Suduvax is the first vaccine developed by GC Pharma in 1993 in Korea and the second in the world. Suduvax, which has won bids in the international procurement market, has served as GC Pharma's cash cow. From 2017 to 2018, it won about $60 million worth of orders from PAHO, ranking first in the procurement market. Chickenpox vaccines generate more sales in overseas markets than in Korea. As a result, domestic companies actively utilize the international procurement market to advance the vaccine into the global market. According to Allied Market Research, a global market research firm, the global chickenpox vaccine market is expected to grow 5.6 percent annually from $2.714 billion in 2018, forming a scale of $4.22 billion by 2026. GC Pharma will also challenge the international procurement market within this year through Barycela. Barycela was approved by the MFDS in March 2020 and was released in Korea in September last year. Like Suduvax, Barycela is a live vaccine and it has improved quality and productivity, greatly increasing yields. GC Pharma's Barycela is currently undergoing WHO PQ certification process. PQ certification is essential to participate in bidding for the international procurement market. The industry predicts that Barycela will acquire PQ certification and participate in the international procurement market in the first half of this year.
- 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.
