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- 2026-05-11 19:09:18
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- Spravato Nasal Spray can be prescribed at general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 03, 2021 06:23am
- Janssen's new depression drug Spravato can be prescribed at general hospitals. According to related industries, in addition to Big5 such as SMC and SNUH, Kyunghee University Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Pusan Paik Hospital, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Jeju National University Hospital, and Haeundae Paik Hospital have passed DC of Spravato (Esketamine), which is used as a combination therapy with oral antidepressants. Spravato, approved in Korea in June last year, is the first Nasal Spray in the field of treatment-resistant depression and the first in 30 years in the field of major depressive disorders. Spravato (Esketamine) improves symptoms of depression by regulating the activity of glutamic acid receptors called NMDA receptors in the brain, thereby restoring synaptic connections and increasing neurotrophic signaling. Spravato also added indications for a major depressive disorder with suicidal thoughts at the end of last year. Baek Jong-woo, a professor of mental health medicine at Kyunghee University Hospital, said, “In a serious situation with the highest suicide rate among OECD countries, we are excited to receive approval for a new and rapid treatment method for major depressive disorders with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In the future, medical treatment will be applied through insurance coverage, etc. " "We look forward to having the system in place quickly so that people in real crisis in the field can use it when they need it." Spravato's indications for suicidal depression were based on the results of the ASPIRE I study and the ASPIRE II study, a global phase 3 clinical trial. In both ASPIRE I and ASPIRE II studies, Spravato was used in combination with conventional standard therapy (including oral antidepressants and hospitalization) as a primary efficacy defined as reduction of depressive symptoms within 24 hours after first dose on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The endpoints were met. The efficacy in treatment-resistant depression, the first approved indication, was demonstrated in a phase 3 clinical trial consisting of short-term and long-term trials in more than 1,700 adult patients. the efficacy of Spravato in a short- and long-term phase 3 clinical trial conducted on 1,700 patients with treatment-resistant depression. Short-term clinical trial TRD (Treatment-Resistant Depression) 3002 divided 223 patients with treatment-resistant depression aged 18 to 65 years of age, and administered either Spravato and oral antidepressant group or placebo and oral antidepressant group. The results showed that the effect of improving treatment-resistant depression was excellent in the Spravato group compared to the placebo group. Particularly, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score was significantly lowered (19.8 points vs. 15.8 points). In the long-term trial, the recurrence probability in the Spravato group was also 51% lower than that of the placebo group.
- Company
- 3 MSD vaccines to raise supply price at least by 15%
- by Mar 03, 2021 06:23am
- Product image of Gardasil 9 and RotaTeq Three vaccines by MSD Korea—Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and RotaTeq—would raise their supply price from April. A pharmaceutical industry source told on Feb. 27 that MSD Korea has decided to raise the price of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines Gardasil and Gardasil 9 and a rotavirus vaccine RotaTeq. The new price would be implemented from coming Apr. 1. The prices would be increased by 15 percent for Gardasil and Gardasil 9, and 17 percent for RotaTeq. Accordingly, Gardasil 9 would be supplied at an approximate price of 120,000 won (VAT excluded). Gardasil would be priced at just below 100,000 won and RotaTeq at 50,000 won. But for the bidding wholesale, the price increase would be postponed during the contract period. MSD Korea is to soon inform of the price change to hospitals. The two HPV vaccines have been maintaining the same price for a long time. So was RotaTeq. Regardless of a competitor Rotarix by GSK raising the price, RotaTeq kept its price. Due to increase in the supply price, the consumer’s inoculation fee would also inevitably rise as well. About the reason for the price increase, the company official explained “We have tried our best to maintain the launching price, but the price increase was unavoidable because of the constantly surging production cost.” Meanwhile, IQVIA reported Gardasil and Gardasil 9 have generated 200 million won and 42.5 billion won last year, respectively. RotaTeq made 11.7 billion won during the same time.
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- Boryung and Kwangdong overcome MM drug Pomalyst patent
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 02, 2021 06:26am
- A product image of Pomalyst Boryung Pharmaceutical and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical have successfully evaded the composition patent on Celgene’s multiple myeloma treatment Pomalyst (Pomalidomide). Overcoming the biggest barrier to receive the preferential sales approval, the two South Korean companies can now release the generics early in January 2024, immediately after the original’s product patent expires. The industry predicts the two companies assertively strengthening the oncology pipeline would be able to even further expand their anticancer treatment line-up with the patent evasion. On Mar. 1, a pharmaceutical industry source told the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board has approved of Boryung Pharmaceutical and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical requesting for a negative confirmation of the patent confirmation against Celenge. On July 31 last year, Boryung Pharmaceutical filed a patent challenge case to evade Pomalyst’s composition patent. Also, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical followed suit on Aug. 12. As Kwangdong Pharmaceutical filed the case within 14 days of Boryung Pharmaceutical’s case, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical would qualify to win the preferential sales rights as well. Ultimately, the seven-month patent dispute concluded with the board ruling in favor of those generic makers. Pomalyst can only protect the product patent expiring in January 2024, as the two South Korean companies have successfully evaded the composition patent expiring in July 2030. The post-marketing surveillance (PMS) period for Pomalyst is to end in June 2023, and the two companies are to release their generics after January 2024 when the original’s product patent expires. The two companies can now consolidate their anticancer pipeline with the latest patent challenge. A pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA reported Pomalyst has generated 13.8 billion won last year. The growth has been steep compared against 8.4 billion won made in 2019. Boryung Pharmaceutical and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical have been approaching the oncology business assertively for last few years. Among the South Korean pharmaceutical companies, Boryung Pharmaceutical continues to top the market share. It owns line-ups like Genexol, Gemzar, Campto and Oxalitin. Genexol is a generic version of Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) Taxol (Paclitaxel). Since 2017, Boryung Pharmaceutical has been selling Genexol developed by Samyang Biopharmaceuticals. Two years into the sales, Genexol’s sales volume exceeded that of the original from 2018. IQVIA reported Taxol made 9.5 billion won last year, when Genexol made 21.4 billion won. The South Korean company concentrated on propelling the oncology business last year by independently separating the sector. As a result, it licensed in the South Korean sales rights of Eli Lilly’s Gemzar (gemcitabine). Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is also actively growing their oncology business. The company’s star anticancer treatments are Revlimid (lenalidomide) generic Lenaldo, and Afinitor (everolimus) generic Erinito. Especially with the newest success in the patent challenge, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical gets to fully complete the multiple myeloma treatment line-ups. Lenaldo, released to the market since 2018, is used to treat multiple myeloma in first and second-line therapies. The Pomalyst generic that overcame the patent would be used as a third-line therapy for patients with multiple myeloma.
- Company
- Viatris Korea downsizing and offering ERP?
- by Mar 02, 2021 06:25am
- Pfizer Upjohn and Mylan recently merged and kicked off a new subsidiary Viatris, but now the company is busy downsizing. While planning to globally restructure and let go of maximum 9,000 employees, the multinational company’s massive change is to also affect the South Korean branch. A month after the official launch in last November, Viatris announced the organization restructuring plan. By 2024, the company would shut down and sell off maximum 15 plants to shave off production cost by at least USD 1 billion (approximately 1.1 trillion won). Due to the project, maximum 20 percent (about 9,000) of the total 45,000 employees would be affected. Viatris has already let go of employees at West Virginia, Ireland and Puerto Rico plants, and closed an injection manufacturing plant in Poland. Although the most of downsizing would take place in manufacturing plants, many of the redundant positions between Mylan and Pfizer Upjohn may be asked to leave. Viatris Korea is also to undergo the massive restructuring. An insider from Viatris Korea commented, “According to the headquarter’s plan, the Korean branch is also preparing to optimize organization structure and efficiently streamline the operation system to meet the prospective business goal.” A significant change may be avoided as Viatris Korea does not have manufacturing staffs and there was no Mylan branch in South Korea, but the company would likely to offer early retirement plan (ERP) program to the sales. The industry is already talking about the rumor that a certain level of positions would receive the ERP offer. Viatris Korea clarified, “The details cannot be disclosed at this point according to the internal policy,” but the industry is sharing detailed ERP conditions. The trend of ERP seems to be continuing on from last year, where a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies experienced the similar situation. Especially due to COVID-19, non-contact sales became the new normal, and the companies tried to downsize the organization claiming to achieve ‘better efficiency.’ However, Viatris insiders say even if the management offers the ERP, the staffs would not be forced to accept them. Viatris labor union associate said, “We are not too concerned of unfair ERP program, as the management has signed an agreement after the negotiation that prospective ERP program would not force any of the staff to leave against their will.” Previously, the management has negotiated and agreed to pay out incentive of 12 million won to every employee transferred to Viatris.
- Company
- Celltrion wins lawsuit over Mabthera patent
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Mar 02, 2021 06:25am
- Truxima Celltrion finally won the patent dispute over Mabthera (Rituximab). Celltrion has been able to completely overcome the patent risk of Mabthera biosimilar Truxima by confirming the victory in the lawsuit that lasted more than five years. On the morning of the 25th, the Supreme Court ruled in an appeal for invalidation of patent registration filed by Biogen. It also took the side of Celltrion. It is Mabthera's use patent. This article is about how to treat hematologic malignancies associated with a high number of circulating tumor cells by administering chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. Including this, Biogen holds five patents of Mabthera. However, the remaining 4 patents were all invalidated according to Celltrion's patent challenge, which was developed from the end of 2015. Through this ruling, Celltrion succeeded in invalidating the last patent. Celltrion has completely eliminated Truxima's patent risk. If the final judgment was on the side of Biogen, it was highly likely that Biogen would file a claim for damages arising from patent infringement. In particular, Celltrion Truxima's domestic and overseas sales were significant, so it was a heavy burden on Celltrion when it lost. Truxima, along with Remsima and Herzuma, is one of Celltrion's flagship products. In Korea, it was launched in 2017. According to Celltrion, it recorded a market share of 19.8% as of the fourth quarter in the US market last year. It recorded a market share of 38% as of the third quarter in the European market.
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- Xospata can be prescribed at general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 26, 2021 06:26am
- Acute myeloid leukemia treatment Xospata can be prescribed at general hospitals. According to related industries, Xospata (Gilteritinib), a drug for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of Astellas Korea, has passed the drug committee (DC) of SNUH and SMC, and is also in progress at other major hospitals nationwide. This drug has already been prescribed in the U.S. and Japan since 2018, obtained European EMA approval last month, and was approved as an orphan drug in Korea in March last year. The effectiveness of Xospata has been demonstrated in a phase 3 clinical ADMIRAL study. In the ADMIRAL test, overall survival (OS) was 5.6 months in other chemotherapy groups, compared to 9.3 months in Xospata group. In addition, the 1-year survival rate was 17% for other chemotherapy groups and 37% for Xospata group. Side effects that occurred in more than 10% of patients for 30 days after Xospata administration were anemia, increased ALT and AST, pyrogenic neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, constipation, fever, and fatigue. AML is the most common form of leukemia, accounting for 65% of adult acute leukemia. The incidence rate increases with age. AML is primarily treated by co-administration of 2-3 drugs such as Anthracycline. The problem is that even though the degree of complete remission, which drops less than 5% of leukemia cells after the first chemotherapy, reaches 50-70%, up to 50% of them recur. Many pharmaceutical companies are working hard to develop new drugs. An official of The Korean Society of Hematology said, "It is important to reduce the number of cancer cells in the early stages of AML. We are looking forward to the emergence of an option that can be prescribed to elderly patients and patients who cannot apply the induction method." Janssen's Dacogen (Decitabine) is currently being prescribed as the primary treatment for elderly patients with AML.
- Company
- Prolia's sales amounted to ₩75.1 billion in 4 years
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 26, 2021 06:26am
- ProliaAmgen's Prolia (Denosumab) ranked first in the osteoporosis treatment market. Amgen's Evenity (Romosozumab) is expected to start earning sales this year. Amgen, which has established a lineup leading to Evenity-Prolia in the osteoporosis treatment market, is expected to sustain high sales for some time. Most of the bisphosphonates, which had previously led the market, declined after the launch of Prolia. ◆Prolia's sales increased 59% in one year from ₩47.3 billion to ₩75.1 billion According to IQVIA on the 23rd, Prolia's sales last year amounted to ₩75.1 billion. Compared to ₩47.3 billion in 2019, it increased by 59%. Amgen released Prolia in Korea in November 2016. In October 2017, it became a reimbursement drug, but it was limited to secondary treatment and quarterly sales remained at the level of ₩2~4 billion. Sales began to increase in earnest as it expanded to primary treatment in April 2019. Sales from ₩4.9 billion in the first quarter of 2019 rose to ₩12.3 billion in the second quarter. The maximum insurance price has decreased by 12% from ₩215,678 (per vial) to ₩190,000. From the second quarter of 2020, it posted sales of ₩20 billion every quarter. In the second quarter, it was ₩20.5 billion, ₩20 billion in the third quarter, and ₩20.2 billion in the fourth quarter. In December of last year, Prolia's upper limit price was cut again. Because it sold too much. The MOHW cut the upper limit of Prolia by 6.5% from ₩190,000 to ₩170,650 on December 4 of last year according to the Price-volume agreement. It is analyzed that the expansion of benefits and strengthening of sales power contributed to the growth of Prolia. Amgen has been selling Prolia with Chong Kun Dang since September 2017. Amgen Korea is in charge of sales and marketing of Prolia in general hospitals and Chong Kun-dang in semi-general hospitals and clinics. ◆Forsteo, Bonviva, and Fosamax sales fell Most of the major osteoporosis treatments that were leading the market showed a decline in sales. Sales of Forsteo by Eli Lilly, which occupied the first place in the market before the launch of Prolia, fell 21% from ₩21.7 billion in 2019 to ₩17.1 billion last year. Sales of bisphosphonate treatments declined similarly. In the case of Bonviva and Bonviva plus by Handok, the total sales decreased by 5% from ₩14 billion to ₩13.3 billion. The sales of Fosamax by MSD also decreased by 16% from ₩14.3 billion to ₩12.2 billion, and sales of Daewoong's Zoledronic acid fell 21% from ₩14.1 billion to ₩11.2 billion. Excluding Amgen's treatment, Hanmi's RaboneD rose in sales. SERM-based treatment, RaboneD (Raloxifene/Cholecalciferol), increased sales by 7% from ₩8.5 billion in 2019 to ₩9.1 billion last year. ◆Amgen's Evenity From this year, Evenity will enter a new competitive drug. Evenity, a follow-up to Prolia by Amgen, were reimbursed in December of last year. Evenity is a bone-forming agent with dual effects of promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Amgen is planning Evenity's positioning strategy in the order of Evenity→Prolia. Amgen has conducted clinical trials for Evenity in a sequential dosage method. In patients with high risk of fracture, after taking Evenity to prolia, and for additional treatment for 12 months, the Evenity-prolia treatment group lowered the risk of new vertebral fractures by 75% compared to the placebo-prolia treatment group. Evenity has recorded sales of around ₩1 billion after its release in December 2019, even though it was before benefits. Evenity's total sales last year was ₩3.8 billion. Amgen expects that sales will start in earnest from this year following the application of the benefits at the end of last year. Amgen also sells Evenity with Chong Kun Dang as well as Prolia.
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- Cancer Committee passes Korean-made new drug Leclaza
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Feb 25, 2021 06:24am
- A Korean-made new drug Leclaza passed the first threshold to receive the National Health Insurance (NHI) listing. A pharmaceutical industry source reported the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Cancer Deliberation Committee has approved of the NHI reimbursement on Yuhan Corporation’s Leclaza (lazertinib), a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) like Tagrisso (osimertinib), on Feb. 24. With the current swift processing, the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) pricing negotiation procedure would also be processed quickly. Leclaza is highly likely to be listed with a refund type risk sharing agreement (RSA) Leclaza was cleared for marketing in South Korea on Jan. 18. In just about a month time, the Cancer Deliberation Committee, considered as the biggest barrier to anticancer treatment seeking for the NHI coverage, passed the new drug. Considering a novel anticancer treatment generally takes about four to five months to be deliberated by the Cancer Deliberation Committee after applying for the reimbursement, the Leclaza processing speed has been exceptional. A related academic society also seems to be supporting Leclaza for the NHI coverage. The Korean Association for Lung Cancer submitted a statement to urge the health authority to approve the healthcare benefit on Leclaza. The society claimed, “The NHI reimbursement should be granted on lazertinib, as it has demonstrated acceptable level of safety and low cardiac toxicity. Moreover, the severity of the disease demands the treatment with coverage, urgently.” Leclaza was authorized as a first-in-class second-line treatment in EGFR T790M mutation-positive patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who has been treated with EGFR-TKI previously. The drug approval was cleared based on the Phase II clinical trial (therapeutic exploratory trial) outcomes conducted in South Korea, but with a condition to conduct a post-marketing Phase III trial (therapeutic confirmatory trial). Currently, first-generation AstraZeneca’s Iressa (gefitinib) and Roche’s Tarceva, second-generation Giotrif (afatinib) and Vizimpro (dakomitinib), and a third-generation AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso are prescribed to patients as EGFR TKI.
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- Pfizer's Benefix was approved as a prophylactic treatment
- by Feb 24, 2021 06:02am
- Pfizer Korea (CEO Dong-wook Oh) announced on the 22nd that Benefix (Recombinant Blood Coagulation Factor Ⅸ), a hemophilia B treatment, was additionally approved by the MFDS for an indication for routine preventive therapy administered once a week. For those over 12 years of age who are injecting Benefix, a dose of 100 IU/kg once a week is recommended to prevent long-term bleeding, and the dosage should be adjusted according to the patient's clinical response. Benefix is the first factor IX genetically modified hemophilia treatment that has been used for over 20 years for supplemental and prophylactic treatment of pediatric and adult hemophilia patients. Benefix can be injected according to the patient's characteristics and circumstances, including 3000 IU/kg. Not only the average dose of 40 IU/kg (in the range of 13 to 78 IU/kg) in clinical trials for conventional secondary prevention is administered every 3 to 4 days, as well as 100 IU/kg once a week. It is now possible to provide patients with a variety of treatment options. Previously, Pfizer confirmed the efficacy and safety of once-a-week prophylaxis in the Benefix 100IU/kg group through a clinical phase 3 extension study of the once-weekly administration for patients with severe hemophilia B, aged 12 to 65 years. The annual bleeding rate (ABR) was reduced by 94% compared to supplemental therapy, and nearly half (48%) of patients did not experience spontaneous bleeding. The median of the annual bleeding rate, including joint, muscle, and soft tissue bleeding, which hemophilia patients frequently experience during the weekly prophylaxis period, was 0. Even about one week after Benefix administration, blood levels exceeding the required baseline 2IU/dL were maintained (2.13-10.39IU/dL) in most patients (2.13-10.39IU/dL), resulting in a prolonged half-life. For the safety profile, no antibody production and allergic reactions, including the formation of blood clots due to high-dose administration, occurred in a study in which prophylaxis was performed once a week for 12 months. Jo Yeon-jin, executive director of Pfizer's Rare Disease Division said, "Benefix, which has been used for the past 20 years, has a variety of treatment options, including once a week for preventive therapy indications, and we are able to provide customized treatment for patients with hemophilia factor IX."
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- Keytruda annual sales top the market for the first time
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Feb 24, 2021 06:02am
- An immunotherapy Keytruda has topped the South Korean pharmaceutical market for the first time. Its outstanding effect confirmed in treating various cancer types have generated sales profit to dominate the market. Anticancer treatment Tagrisso and immunotherapy Humira surpassed the annual sales of 100 billion won. A pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13 had its sales soaring amid the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) outbreak. According to the pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA on Feb. 21, MSD marked the highest sales last year with Keytruda making 155.7 billion won. Keytruda pushed aside Lipitor and took over the first place making year-on-year growth of 24.8 percent. It is first time for Keytruda took the market leadership for the time since its launch in 2015. Immediately after the market release, Keytruda’s annual sales have remained around 10 billion won in 2016 and 2017, but the figure grew rapidly and hit 70 billion won in 2018. The demand on the drug has surged as the healthcare insurance coverage was granted from August 2017 as a second-line therapy treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Keytruda sales in 2019 exceeded 100 billion won, and it was also the drug with highest sales revenue last year. Keytruda is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks PD-L1 receptor from biding with PD-1 pathway on the surface of T-cell and activates immune cells to treat the tumor cells. The drug showed notable efficacy in treating over 30 cancer types including melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer. The vastly wide range of indication eventually helped the drug to boost the sales. Moreover, the sales in AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso rapidly grew as well. Compared to the year before, Tagrisso last year grew by 34.5 percent and made 106.5 billion won. Approved for sales in South Korea in 2016, Tagrisso is a second-line treatment prescribed to NSCLC patients who developed tolerance in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like Iressa, Tarceva and Giotrif. The medicine is considered a third-generation treatment that overcame EGFR-TKI tolerance. After receiving the healthcare reimbursement from December 2017, the drug sales have been growing consistently in South Korea, where it exceeded over 100 billion won a year in just four years into the market. AbbVie’s autoimmune disease treatment Humira grew by 8.1 percent from the year before making 104.2 billion won last year, and exceeded the 100 billion won-line for the first time. A tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α) inhibitor Humira has the most number of indications among TNF-α inhibitors with 14 indications. Targeting such diverse patient group with the range of indications, the drug was able to maintain the high growth. In 2020, Keytruda, Lipitor, Avastin, Tagrisso and Humira were the five drugs that broke through the 100 billion won-line. All were developed by multinational pharmaceutical companies. Although Lipitor sales dipped by 4.9 percent and handed over the top place to Keytruda, it still made over 100 billion won and consolidated its strong presence in the market. Pfizer’s pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13 generated 81.3 billion won last year and showed off an exceptional year-on-year growth of 64.8 percent. Prevnar 13 is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) that prevents infection from 13 types of pneumococcal pneumonia (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 23F). The vaccine can be inoculated to all age group older than 6-week-old. Chong Kun Dang is in charge of distributing the vaccine for adult in South Korea, whereas the infant and children vaccine distribution is handled by Korea Vaccine. The market research firm analyzes Prevenar 13 has been showing consistent growth in sales over the years from 2016 through 2019 making 56.1 billion won, 49.1 billion won, 50.5 billion won and 49.4 billion won, respectively, but last year’s sales soared abruptly amid COVID-19. They evaluate the use of the vaccine in adults has leapt sharply as many were convinced by a number of experts claiming the vaccine can weakened the pneumonia symptoms induced from COVID-19, although it cannot prevent the pneumonia itself. Amgen’s osteoporosis treatment Prolia joined the top ten by making 75.1 billion won last year showing year-on-year growth of 58.6 percent. Released to the South Korean market in November 2016, Prolia is a biologic osteoporosis treatment directed against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), which interferes with the formation, activation, and survival of osteoclasts. The drug’s sales started taking off since it was listed for reimbursement in 2017 as a second-line treatment. And Prolia’s sales grew exponentially from 3.7 billion won in 2017 to 14.3 billion won in 2018. Also when it successfully expanded the reimbursement as a first-line treatment from April last year, the figure hit 47.3 billion won and it continued to soar last year as well. Experts point out the sales partnership with Chong Kun Dang has strengthened the growth. Meanwhile, none of South Korean companies had their product in the top ten. The influenza vaccines developed by GC Pharma and SK Bioscience both remarkably made 40 billion won each in last year’s fourth quarter. However, in last year as a whole, they respectively made 63.8 billion won and 51.5 billion won, and failed to list their names on the leader board.
