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- 2026-05-09 09:58:28
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- Sales of oral contraceptives rebound…4th gen Yaz sales up 2
- by Ji Yong Jun Mar 11, 2022 06:04am
- The oral contraceptive market grew greatly last year. Sales of the fourth-generation contraceptive Bayer Korea’s Yaz increased greatly, and the return of the third-generation Dong-A Pharmaceutical’s Mybora and the release of GC Pharm’s Dearmesoon had also contributed to market expansion. According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 8th, the oral contraceptive market size increased 19.6% YoY to record ₩38.4 billion last year. The oral contraceptive market grew from ₩32.8 billion in 2017 to ₩34.9 billion in 2019. In 2020, the market size reduced slightly to ₩32.1 billion but then made a rebound last year. The oral contraceptive market, which consists of hormone therapies that contain estrogen and progesterone can be categorized into 4 generations. The first-generation drugs have withdrawn from the market due to their side effects. The second-generation and third-generation drugs are being distributed at pharmacies as general drugs. In particular, third-generation drugs have minimized the side effects of second-generation drugs such as acne, body hair growth, and weight gain. Fourth-generation drugs are also effective in reducing acne but are specialty drugs that require doctors’ prescriptions as it contains drospirenone, which could cause thrombosis. The significant increase in sales of Yaz, the leading product in the oral contraceptive market, also increased the size of the overall market. Yaz’s sales rose 24.5% from the previous year to record ₩19.8 billion last year. Despite being a specialty drug, Yaz has been growing its influence in the market with its advantages in weight control and acne improvement. Also, the release of new third-generation oral contraceptives and the return of some products contributed to the market expansion. Mybora, returned to the market after a one-year gap recorded ₩1.5 billion last year. Mybora discontinued its supply in the market due to difficulty in procuring raw materials due to COVID-19 and a change in its manufacturing facility in Q4 2019. Due to this, Mybora virtually did not generate any significant sales in 2020. The company was only able to resolve the raw material issue in its local plant last year and start to generate sales in May. Dearmesoon, which was released in Q2 last year, recorded ₩0.5 billion last year. Its score was not bad for the first year in the oral contraceptive market. Clockwise from the left Mybora, Dearmesoon, Senseday, Senslibe, Mercilon, Alesse Sales of Mercilon, the lead product in the market decreased 9.5% from the previous year to record ₩7 billion last year. The return of its competitor Mybora and the release of Dearmesoon is interpreted to have led to decreased sales. Mercilon had boasted annual sales of ₩10 billion a year, but its influence had shrunk in the recent two years. In 2019, Mercilon sold ₩9.1 billion, an 8.1% reduction from the previous year, and then again dropped 15.4% in 2020 to record ₩7.7 billion. Sales of Dong-A Pharmaceutical’s Melian increased 6.1% YoY to record ₩1.9 billion last year. Sales of Pfizer’s Alesse were maintained at a similar level to the previous year at ₩1.8 billion.
- Company
- Global lead Humira’s sales drop... biosimilars occupy 16%
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Mar 11, 2022 06:04am
- The ₩200 billion autoimmune disease market has finally revealed its form in Korea. The growth of the global leading product ‘Humira’ had fallen somewhat due to the introduction of its biosimilars. The 5 biosimilars by domestic companies Celltrion, Samsung Bioepis, LG Chem, etc. are also increasing their influence in the market, but their total market share remains in the 10% range. ◆ TNF-α inhibitor market shrinks for the first time… aftermath of Humira’s drug price cut According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 9th, sales in the domestic TNF-α inhibitor market was ₩233 billion, a 0.4% decrease from the previous year. TNF-α inhibitors are antibody drugs that suppress the expression of tumor necrosis factor TNF alpha in the body and are prescribed for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Products from multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Humira, Remicade, Simponi, Enbrel, and Enbrel Myclic are leading the market, and biosimilars from domestic companies such as Celltrion, Samsung Bioepis, and LG Chem have also thrown their hats into the market. This is the first year the domestic TNF-α inhibitor market’s size had shrunk. The market had continued to show high growth every year since making a twofold growth in 6 years from ₩120.2 billion in 2014 to ₩233.9 billion in 2020. However, the market showed sluggish growth after 2018, when it recorded a 23.2% YoY growth, then grew 11.2% and 4.5% respectively in 2019 and 2020. The market turned downwards for the first time last year. The recent sluggish market growth of the TNF-α inhibitor market is due to the sluggish sales of the lead product in the market - Humira. Humira sold ₩91.2 billion last year, a 12.3% decrease from the previous year. This is the first time Humira’s sales fell compared to the previous year. Since its release in 2006, its sales rose every year to exceed ₩100 billion for the first time in 2020 but then fell to a record ₩90 billion the next year. The sales decline is due to the introduction of biosimilars. Samsung Bioepis had registered its Humira biosimilar ‘Adaloche’ in May last year and released it in the domestic market. In principle, the insurance price cap of original drugs falls 30% with the introduction of biosimilars under the Korean drug pricing system. Humira’s price had been reduced by 30% from June 7th last year. With the price cut, prices of three drugs - Humira Pen inj. 40mg/0.4mL, Humira Prefilled syringe inj. 40mg/0.4mL, Humira inj. 40mg vial fell 30% from ₩411,558 to become ₩288,091, and Humira Prefilled syringe inj. 20mg/0.2mL fell from ₩224,002 to ₩156,801. Humira recorded ₩27.5 billion in sales in Q1 last year but dropped 24.9% to record ₩20.7 billion in just the one quarter since. Humira then made some recovery to ₩21.1 billion and ₩21.9 billion in Q3 and Q4 but wasn’t able to recover from the impact of their price cuts. Sales of other TNF-α inhibitor products of multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Janssen’s Remicade and Simponi, Pfizer’s Enbrel, and Enbrel Myclic have shown a continuous increase. ◆ Domestically developed similars make ₩36.8 billion... twofold increase in 4 years but occupy only around 10% of the market Although domestic biosimilar products are gradually expanding their market share in the TNF-α inhibitor market, their market influence is still not large. Starting with Celltrion’s Remisa, domestic products such as Samsung Bioepis’s Etoloce, Remaloce, Adaloche, and LG Chem’s Eucept have currently entered the TNF-α inhibitor market. Remsima and Remaloce are Remicade biosimilars. Originals of Adaloche and Eucept are Enbrel. Adaloche is Humira’s biosimilar. Last year, sales of the 5 TNF-α inhibitor biosimilars increased 13.9% from the previous year to record ₩36.8 billion. This is over a twofold increase in 4 years from the ₩18.2 billion in 2017. Remsima, which first appeared in 2013, is leading the growth of biosimilars. Remsima's sales last year were ₩24.4 billion, up 9.8% from the previous year. Remsima’s sales decreased 12.0% from ₩25.3 billion in 2019 to ₩22.2 billion the following year, then made a rebound last year. Biosimilars of Samsung Bioepis and LG Chem barely make less than ₩50 billion in annual sales. Samsung Bioepis’ Etoloce recorded ₩3.9 billion in sales last year, down 0.8% from the previous year. It recorded a high growth rate from the ₩700 million in 2017 to ₩2 billion in 2018, then to ₩4 billion in 2020, but then sales stalled the last year. Remaloce’s sales increased 10.1% from the previous year to record ₩3.6 billion but did not significantly influence the total market. LG Chem’s Eucept had also shown 30.7% growth in the market recording ₩3.6 billion in sales but did not exert much influence in the market. The 5 domestically developed biosimilars in the TNF-α inhibitor market only was able to occupy 15.8% last year. In 2020, its sales grew 13.8%, a slight increase, which is in stark contrast to its big success made in Europe and the US. In Korea, the difference in the insured drug prices between original drugs and biosimilars is not large, therefore the latecomers cannot penetrate the market as quick as in Europe or the United States. Some analysts say that it is not easy overcome the trust in original drugs with biosimilars that have been established for a long time as the drugs are used in critically ill patients.
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- MSD’s 15-valent vaccine ‘Vaxneuvance’ comes to Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 10, 2022 05:54am
- MSD aims to challenge the dominance of ‘Prevenar 13’ in the domestic pneumococcal vaccine market. According to industry sources, MSD Korea has submitted an application and is being reviewed for the marketing authorization of its 15-valent pneumococcal vaccine ‘Vaxneuvance,' and may be approved within the year. If released, Vaxneuvance will compete with Pfizer Korea’s 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar 13, the leading product in the field that has an overwhelming share of the market. Vaxneuvance, which is a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, induces active immunization for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F. The vaccine can be used in adults 18 years of age. MSD is also undergoing clinical trials on pediatric patients. In the clinical trial, Vaxneuvance was non-inferior to Prevenar 13 (PCV13) for the 13 shared serotypes as assessed by opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) Geometric Mean Titers (GMTs). Also, its immune responses were superior to Prevenar 13 shared serotype 3 and for the two serotypes unique to Vaxneuvance, 22F and 33F. Ratio 1.62 (95% CI 1.40, 1.87)]. In particular, in the Phase III PNEU-AGE (V114-019) trial, Vaxneuvance demonstrated greater OPA GMT ratios for serotypes 22F and 33F. However, randomized controlled trials assessing the clinical efficacy of Vaxneuvance compared to Prevenar 13 have not been conducted. Vaxneuvance holds significance in demonstrating its effect in preventing serotypes 22F and 33F, the common serotypes that cause invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults. Serotypes 22F and 33F are not contained in Prevenar 13. Meanwhile, Pfizer had also developed a follow-up product for its Prevenar13. Last year, the US FDA approved Pfizer’s marketing authorization for its 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, ‘Prevnar 20.’
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- The sales of Prolia & Evenity exceed ₩100 billion
- by Mar 10, 2022 05:53am
- From the left, Amgen Prolia and EvenityAmgen has opened an era of 100 billion won in the osteoporosis treatment market. Sales of the two products are increasing rapidly as sequential treatments leading to Evenity-Prolia are being put forward. According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical research institute, sales of Amgen's osteoporosis treatment, Denosumab, stood at 92.1 billion won last year, up 22.7% from 75.1 billion won a year earlier. Sales of another treatment, Evenity, increased 220.3% from 3.8 billion won in 2020 to 12.3 billion won last year. The total sales of the two products amounted to 104.4 billion won. Amgen introduced Prolia in Korea through GSK in 2014 and has been devoted to the osteoporosis treatment market by recovering its copyright in 2016. By actively selling Prolia in partnership with Chong Kun Dang, sales surged from 3.7 billion won in 2017 to 14.3 billion won in 2018 and 47.3 billion won in 2019. Prolia, which entered the 70 billion won range in 2020, reached 92.1 billion won last year, approaching the entry of 100 billion won blockbuster drugs. Prolia, a bone absorption inhibitor, has become the first standard treatment therapy for osteoporosis with superior effect and convenience of administration than the previously widely used bisphosphonate (BP). Bisphosphonate formulations are tricky, such as taking sufficient amounts of water and not lying down for at least 30 minutes after taking them on an empty stomach 1-2 hours before meals. In addition, it was difficult for patients to continuously take medicine because side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders could occur when used for a long time. Prolia only needs to be administered once every six months. Even after 10 years of long-term treatment, the effect of continuous bone density improvement and consistent safety profile were confirmed. As Prolia has become a standard treatment, all BP drugs are on the decline. Lilly's Forsteo, once called the strongest in the market, saw its sales fall 24.8% from 17.1 billion won in 2020 to 12.9 billion won last year. During the same period, Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Dowong Zoledronic Acid Inj also fell 12.9% from 11.2 billion won to 9.8 billion won. MSD's Fosamax products maintained sales from 12.2 billion won to 12.1 billion won. Amgen's new osteoporosis treatment Evenity approved in June 2019 is also cruising. Evenity, which raised 3.8 billion won in 2020, has been listed since last year and surpassed 10 billion won at once. Evenity is the first osteoporosis treatment that has both the effect of "promoting bone formation" and "suppressing bone absorption." It is a mechanism that stimulates mature osteoblasts and promotes bone formation by activating tissue osteoblasts, while also acts as a regulator of osteoblasts to suppress bone absorption. AACE/ACE recommend using Evenity from the initial treatment of ultra-high risk groups with a high risk of fracture. Amgen is proposing a "sequential treatment" strategy that treats patients with high risk of fracture with Prolia after one year of treatment with Evenity. By emphasizing the importance of continuous treatment of osteoporosis, it is intended to establish an environment in which patients can be treated with Prolia for a long time. Domestic societies such as the KSBMR are also carrying out various activities such as policy symposiums and revision of medical guidelines to improve awareness of osteoporosis. It is also worth noting whether Prolia and Evenity will expand their benefit range. Currently, the administration period of osteoporosis drugs is based on the bone density level of T-Score. Benefits are recognized only for patients with T-Score -2.5 or less. If the level is higher than -2.5 in follow-up observation one year after administration of the treatment, the salary is no longer recognized. Evenity can also be reimbursed when bisphosphonate is used first and then used as a secondary drug, especially T-Score -2.5 or less and two or more osteoporosis fractures must be met. In response, it is pointed out that Evenity should be used as the primary drug and improved so that it can be used even if a fracture occurs once. If the standards of Prolia and Evenity are expanded in the future, the two products are expected to face another turning point in sales.
- Company
- Why the Patent Court rejected the ‘prodrug strategy’
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 10, 2022 05:53am
- Dong-A ST is challenging the substance patent of AstraZeneca’s SGLT-2 inhibitor antidiabetic treatment ‘Forxiga (dapagliflozin).’ The industry’s eyes are focused on Dong-A ST’s challenge, with the expectation that Dong-A ST’s success would bring a new strategy that can overcome the substance patent of originals. However, Dong-A ST’s attempt has been put to a stop by the Patent Court of Korea. The final decision will be made by the Supreme Court, but attention is focused on why the Patent Court of Korea overturned the first instance court's ruling and ruled in favor of AstraZeneca in its appeal against Dong-A ST. ◆ "Clear difference between the original drug and prodrug” judged in both the first and second trials According to the ruling on the 28th, the Patent Court of Korea ruled in favor of AstraZeneca on the grounds that the principle of action between the original substance of Forxiga and Dong-A ST's prodrug was the same. Pro-drug is a ‘pro’ drug that is considered a similar but different drug from the original drug. Its chemical structure is partially different in the substituents with the original drug from its manufacture to immediately before administration. However, once administered, the drug shows the same effect as the original By principle, it sounds similar to salt-modified drugs, but the difference Is clear. The salt can be changed through simple ion bonding. Its chemical structure itself does not change. However, prodrugs change the substituents through a more difficult covalent binding method. It has a different chemical structure to the original drug. The first and the second court both made the same judgment on whether the prodrug could be considered a completely new substance. Both the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) and the Patent Court of Korea interpreted Dong-A ST’s prodrug as a completely different substance to the original substance. The IPTAB judged that the “difference in chemical structure is clear, therefore, Dong-A ST’s prodrug is outside the scope of rights held by Forxiga’s patented invention.” ◆ Patent Court of Korea “a skill that can be easily conceived by an ordinary skilled person" However, the two courts' rulings differed in the ‘ease of substitution issue.’ The courts made different judgments on whether an ordinary skilled person in the industry may easily produce Dong-A ST’s prodrug. While the first court judged that developing the prodrug was not easy, the second instance court judged that it "was a substance anyone with ordinary skills in the industry could produce.” The evidence AstraZeneca submitted for the appeal played an important role in the ruling. The Patent Court of Korea explained, “the specific form of ‘formate ester’ that Dong-A ST used to develop its Forxiga prodrug has been found in various literature.” ◆Deleted ‘produg’ in the patent registration process …Court decides it was “common practice" at the time Dong-A ST appealed using the fact that the term ‘prodrug’ was deleted in the process of AstraZeneca’s patent registration. In fact, when AstraZeneca first filed the substance patent for Forxiga in 2006, it listed its scope as “compounds with chemical structural formula I, or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer, or prodrug ester thereof.” However, the prodrug part was deleted after the first patent claim was rejected by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The final patent registered specifies the scope as “compounds with chemical structural formula I, or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer,” without the prodrug part. Dong-A ST claimed that the deletion of "prodrug esters" from the claim indicates the waiver of those rights on the company’s part. However, the Patent Court of Korea turned down the claim. The court judged “AstraZeneca did not consciously delete the part, and “it was KIPO's practice at the relevant time not to allow the term "prodrug" in patent claims for formal reasons.” ◆Up to the supreme court…’ strategy to overcome substance patents of original drugs’ at a crossroad Dong-A ST expressed dissent at the Court’s decision and filed an appeal. The case will therefore be judged by the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court determines that there is a problem with the second trial ruling, the patent strategy of the entire domestic pharmaceutical industry may be revised. Like Dong-A ST, other companies will opt to challenge the substance patent of original drugs using the prodrug strategy. On the other hand, if the Supreme Court confirms the judgment of the second instance court, the substance patent of original drugs may continue to remain impenetrable.
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- Keytruda for esophageal cancer indications is imminent
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 08, 2022 06:08am
- Keytruda, an immuno-cancer drug, is expected to be able to be prescribed for esophageal cancer. According to related industries, the MFDS has finally reviewed the first round of local progressive or metastatic esophageal cancer (GEJ), in which PD-1 inhibitory immuno-cancer drug Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) of MSD is non-resectable. Permission is expected as early as the second quarter. Following colon cancer in June last year and triple negative breast cancer in July last year, the area of indications is rapidly expanding. Keytruda's indications for esophageal cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer were approved by the U.S. FDA in March last year and the European EMA in June last year. Keytruda's effectiveness for esophageal cancer has been proven through a phase 3 clinical KEYNOTE-590 study. Keytruda, 5-FU, and Cisplatin combination therapy demonstrated statistically significant OS and PFS improvements over 5-FU+cisplatin in all pre-designated study groups. Keytruda, 5-FU, and Cisplatin reduced the risk of death by 27% compared to 5-FU+Cisplatin, and the risk of disease progression or death by 35%. In the patient group with a PD-L1 expression rate of 10 or higher, Keytruda and 5-FU+Cisplatin reduced the risk of death by 38% and the risk of disease progression or death by 49%, compared to 5-FU and Cisplatin. In patients treated with Keytruda, 5-FU, and Cisplatin combination therapy, the objective response rate (ORR) was 51.1%, of which the CR ratio was 5.9% and the PR ratio was 45.2%.
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- Generation shift of ALK targeted drugs... rise of Alecensa
- by Mar 08, 2022 06:08am
- The targeted cancer therapy market for patients with ALK mutations has been restructured around second-generation drugs. The share of the first-generation drug Xalkori, which used to occupy 2/3 of the market fell to 20%, and the representative second-generation drug ‘Alecensa' took over the market. However, Alunbrig, a latecomer into the second-generation treatment market, has been rapidly chasing the market leader Alecensa that has currently occupied over half of the market. According to the pharmaceutical research institution IQVIA on the 8th, the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) market recorded ₩54.4 billion last year, which was an 11.9% and ₩48.6 billion increase from the previous year. The ALK TKI market, whose doors were first opened by ‘Xalkori (crizotinib),’ is used to treat patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the introduction of next-generation drugs that have demonstrated improved efficacy, a total of 5 drugs are currently present in the market. In addition to second-generation drugs ‘Zykadia (ceritinib),’ ‘Alecensa (alectinib),’ ‘Alunbrig (brigatinib),’ a third-generation drug ‘Lorviqua (lorlatinib)’ has also entered the market last year. Compared to 2017, the market transition from first-generation to second-generation drugs is quite clear. In 2017, Xalkori had an oligopoly over the market as the only ALK TKI option and accounted for 86% of the market. Its sales had recorded nearly ₩36.5 billion that year, followed by the first second-generation drug, ‘Zykadia,' which made ₩5.1 billion, then Alecensa's ₩1.1 billion. However, in 4 years in 2021, the landscape had completely shifted with the proof that second-generation drugs have a better effect in patients with brains metastasis. With doctors opting for second-generation drugs in the first line, Alecensa’s market share rose to 60%. Shares of another second-generation drug, Alunbrig, took over 15% of the market, making ₩8 billion in sales. Xalkori’s sales fell to 24%, making ₩13.1 billion. Roche’s Alecensa and Takeda’s Alunbrig are representative second-generation ALK TKIs. By market entry, Alecensa entered the market 2 years earlier than Alunbrig. Alecensa expanded its indication to the first-line in 2018 and was granted reimbursement in December of the same year to quickly replace Xalkori. In 2018, Alecensa sold ₩10.4 billion, which was 1/4 of the sales made by Xalkori (₩49.6 billion). After receiving reimbursement in 2019, Alecensa sold ₩22.1 billion and exceeded the Xalkori's ₩20.3 billion in sales. Alecensa's sales increased to ₩29.3 billion in 2020 and ₩32.7 billion in 2021. Alunbrig, which was approved in December 2018, aimed to rapidly enter the market and catch up with Alecensa. As soon as it was approved for the first linein August 2020, the company applied for its reimbursement and succeeded in expanding its reimbursement in only 7 months. With the reimbursement approval as a first-line treatment that was granted in April last year, the company is working to expand its share in the market. Sales in 2020 were ₩3.9 billion won, far short of that of Alecensa and Xalkori, sales increased 102.9% to ₩8 billion after the reimbursement expansion. On the other hand, the first second-generation drug, Novartis’s Zykadia, has been going down a completely different path. Zykadia’s sales which had surged to ₩5.1 billion in the past had started to fall sharply with the introduction of Alecensa. It sold ₩2.2 billion in 2018, ₩0.9 billion in 2019, and only ₩0.5 billion last year. The anlaysis is that this rapid drop in sales is due to the relatively higher instance of side effects compared to Alecensa or Alunbrig. The first third-generation ALK TKI was introduced last year. Xalkori’s developer Pfizer had introduced the first-ever third-generation drug Lorviqua. Lorviqua was first to be approved as a second-line treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC in July last year and rose as a new alternative due to its ability to manage the resistance developed after first-line treatment. Lorviqua can manage the resistance caused by G1202R mutation, as well as those by F1174L (Zykadia), I1171T/N/S (Alecensa), E1210K (Alunbrig). Lorviqua is not listed for reimbursement yet and is expected to generate sales in earnest after passing the National Health Insurance Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee and drug negotiations with the authorities. In particular, as Lorviqua is attempting to expand its territory into first-line treatment for ALK-positive patients, its its competition with second-generation drugs are also being expected to arise soon. The drug already owns a first-line indication for ALK-positive NSCLC in the US and Euope.
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- Domestic production of Sputnik V was delayed
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 08, 2022 06:08am
- Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, shipments of domestic companies that consignment produce the COVID-19 vaccine Koruspharm developed by Russia are also being postponed indefinitely. Koruspharm said in a telephone interview with Dailypharm on the 4th, "We are continuously talking to the Russian side via e-mail or phone call even after the war broke out," adding, "For now, product shipments have been stagnant due to the Ukrainian crisis." According to Koruspharm, the company has currently produced Sputnik undiluted solutions for 10 million people, of which 5.3 million have completed the production of finished products. This means that the quantity that can be shipped immediately amounts to 5.3 million people. Koruspharm originally planned to supply the finished vaccine to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America in line with the Russian order. Administrative procedures for shipment have also been completed. However, orders from Russia have been delayed day by day, and shipments have not been expected recently due to the outbreak of war. Koruspharm is looking for buyers directly through its own network. The company explained that it has even confirmed its intention to purchase from some Middle Eastern countries. An official from Koruspharm said, "Iit is true that Russia lacked marketing capabilities. We are looking through our own network and have confirmed our intention to purchase from some places." He went on to say, "Russia and the country must officially sign contracts in order to lead to actual shipments. When the contract between the two countries is signed, we plan to ship it immediately, he said. "We have concluded discussions with Russia to ship the rest of the vaccines in this way in the future." Regarding the payment for consignment production of vaccines, he said, "Uncertainty has grown in the collection of payments as the U.S. and Europe imposed massive economic sanctions against Russia." "To solve this problem, we are discussing with the Russian side how to receive payments directly from vaccine buyers instead of Russia," he said. Koruspharm signed a "Sputnik V consignment production contract" with RDIF in September last year. Since then, Koruspharm has formed a consortium with six companies and one institution, including Binex, Boryung Biopharma, ISU Abxis, Chong Kun Dang Bio, Quratis, and Andong Animal Cell Demonstration Support Center. The consortium plans to build production facilities of more than 100 million doses per month.
- Company
- Changes in the lung cancer treatment market are detected
- by Mar 07, 2022 05:50am
- Changes are detected in the EGFR targeted anticancer drug market, which Tagrisso dominated. Tagrisso sales stagnated for the first time due to sluggish primary treatment benefits. Leclaza, the only domestic new drug in the market, is threatening Tagrisso. According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical research institute, on the 5th, the size of the domestic EGFR TKI market last year was 156.4 billion won, up 2.8% from 152.1 billion won a year earlier. Compared to the growth trend so far, it has slowed down somewhat. The market surged from 55.4 billion won in 2017 to 104.3 billion won in 2018 and 132.2 billion won in 2019. Tagrisso's sales stood at 106.5 billion won last year, the same as the previous year. Tagrisso, which had been increasing sales at a frightening pace for four years since its approval in 2016, suffered a stagnation for the first time last year. Tagrisso is the first third-generation EGFR-TKI in Korea. It is a next-generation targeted anticancer drug following the first generation Iressa, Tarceva, and second generation Giotrif and Vizimpro. Tagrisso was first listed in December 2017 after being approved as a secondary treatment in May 2016. Sales of Tagrisso jumped from 2.3 billion won in 2016 to 10.3 billion won in 2017, and surged to 59.4 billion won in 2018. It surpassed 100 billion won for the first time, raising 106.5 billion won in 2020 following 79.2 billion won in 2019. However, it did not exceed 100 billion won last year. This is in contrast to a 16% increase in global sales from $4.3 billion to $5 billion last year. This is analyzed as a result of reflecting the specificity of the Korean market. Tagrisso obtained a primary treatment indication for EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer in December 2018 and began to expand the benefit, but failed to pass the Cancer Disease Review Committee of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for three years. Since then, AstraZeneca has appealed for Asian effects by submitting FLAURA China data for Chinese people, but failed to pass the Cancer Disease Review Committee in November last year. Another factor that caused congestion was the emergence of a new domestic drug Leclaza. Leclaza is a third-generation EGFR TKI developed by Yuhan Corporation. In January of last year, it was approved as the 31st new drug in Korea and was listed in July of that year. It was registered 165 days after the permit while quickly applying for insurance registration. Leclaza is also the only domestic treatment in the EGFR targeted anticancer drug market. Leclaza quickly entered large hospitals and made full-fledged sales in the second half of last year. Sales for the first six months amounted to 4.1 billion won. This is the highest sales in the past six months among new anticancer drugs developed in Korea. Yuhan Corporation is chasing Tagrisso by entering a global phase 3 with the aim of indicating Leclaza's primary treatment. Beringer Ingelheim's Giotrif stood at 22 billion won last year, up 18.4% from 18.6 billion won the previous year. Giotrif is steadily increasing its sales to 10.9 billion won in 2017, 13.6 billion won in 2018, and 16.6 billion won in 2019. Iressa fell 14.1% from 19.6 billion won in 2020 to 16.8 billion won last year. Tarceva also fell 23.6% from 7.3 billion won to 5.6 billion won. First-generation EGFR-TKI, which once accounted for 80% of the market, gave way to next-generation drugs, falling to 14%.
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- Immuno-oncology drugs make ₩400 billion after 7 years
- by Mar 07, 2022 05:49am
- The immuno-oncology drug market exceeded ₩400 billion in annual sales only 7 years since its debut in Korea. With Keytruda in the lead making over ₩200 billion in sales, the latecomers Tecentriq and Imfinzi are chasing the lead with its rapid growth. According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 4th, the total immuno-oncology treatment that consists of 6 immuno-oncology drugs in Korea has made ₩407 billion last year, a ₩285.6 billion increase and a 42.5% YoY increase from the previous year. This record was made in 7 years since the first immuno-oncology drug Yervoy (Ipilimumab) was approved in December 2014. The release of Yervoy marked the start era of immuno-oncology treatments in Korea. Since then, Ono Pharamcueitals’ Opdivo (nivolumab), MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Roche’s Tecentriq (atezolizumab), AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab), Merck’s Bavencio (avelumab) followed, recording a total of 6 immuno-oncology drugs to be sold in the Korean market. ◆'Keytruda’s sales exceed ₩200 billion… ‘Opdivo’ shows later growth ' Half of the ₩400 billion immuno-oncology drug market is currently occupied by Keytruda. Keytruda made ₩200.1 billion to top pharmaceutical sales in Korea last year. This is the second consecutive year Keytruda has topped the leaderboard since it first recorded took the lead in 2020. Looking back on its sales for the past 5 years, Keytruda first sold ₩12.2 billion in 2017, then rose 476.2% the next year after reimbursement to make ₩70.3 billion in 2018. In 2019 it made ₩124.8 billion, then ₩155.7 billion in 2020, a 77.5% and 24.8% YoY growth, respectively. Then, the drug’s sales exceeded ₩200 billion for the first time last year. With its reimbursement applied to first-line treatment in NSCLC, its sales are again expected to show rapid growth this year. The 2nd place was Opdivo, which recorded ₩85 billion in sales last year. This is a 27.4% YoY increase from the previous year. Opdivo’s sales jumped from ₩12.5 billion to ₩57.5 billion after it was listed for reimbursement in 2017, then slowed down to maintain the ₩67 billion range in 2019 and 2020, then again gained growth last year. However, Opdivo has made relatively slow growth compared to Keytruda, which received approval on the same day. Opdivo is seeking external growth by increasing its indications. After receiving approval in the first-line for non-small cell lung cancer in December 2020, it also added a first-line indication for gastric cancer last year and became the first immuno-oncology drug to add a first-line indication in the field. The company also added 5 more indications this year. ◆Latecomers Tecentriq and Opdivo succeed by targeting unattended markets The relative latecomers Tecentriq and Opdivo are intently chasing the leaders at a rapid pace. The drugs, which have entered the market 2-4 years later than Ketruda·Opdivo, have rapidly penetrated the unattended markets. Tecentriq, which made ₩0.7 billion the first year, recorded ₩4.4 billion the following year. In 2019, its sales rose 238.6% to record ₩14.9 billion. Also, Tecentriq’s sales rose over twofold last year to ₩37 billion in 2020. Last year, its sales rose 81.6% to record ₩67.2 billion. Tecentriq was the first PD-L1 immuno-oncology drug to be introduced to Korea. The drug was first indicated for bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma), an area that Keytruda and Opdivo hadn’t entered at the time. Also, the drug was the first to enter the field of triple-negative breast cancer. It was also relevantly quickly introduced into the reimbursement setting, in one year since its approval. The company embraced the government’s ‘'performance-based reimbursement proposal' in 2019 to accelerate reimbursement expansion for its drug. Imfinzi, which was approved in December 2018, also made over ₩50 billion in annual sales only 3 years after its release. Imfinzi’s sales which recorded ₩3.4 billion in 2019, jumped 7 times to record ₩24.6 billion in just a single year. Last year, its sales grew 91% to record ₩47.1 billion.
