Samjin and Korea Pharma’s first generics are reimb in KOR

The companies’ self-developed first generic drugs

Samjin’s generic version of the atrial fibrillation drug Multaq listed at KRW 808 per tablet

Korea Pharma releases first generic version of the antidepressant Pristiq

Samjin Pharmaceutical and Korea Pharma have launched first generics in Korea.

 

Samjin Pharmaceutical will launch the first generic of Sanofi's atrial fibrillation drug Multaq Tab, while Korea Pharma will launch the first generic of Pfizer's antidepressant Pristiq ER Tab.

 

According to industry sources, Samjin Pharmaceutical's ‘Samjin Dron Tab as (dronedarone)’ will be listed at KRW 808 per tablet in Korea.

 

The drug is indicated for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients in sinus rhythm with a history of paroxysmal or persistent AF to reduce the risk of hospitalization.

 

Adults may take 1 tablet (dronedarone 400 mg) twice daily with breakfast and dinner.

 

The original generic version of dronedarone is Sanofi's Multaq Tab.

 

It was approved in Korea in February 2010.

 

The product patent for Multaq expired in 2022.

 

According to UBIST, its last year's outpatient prescriptions amounted to KRW 10.9 billion, exceeding KRW 10 billion for the first time last year.

 

As Samjin already owns a high market share in the field of cardiovascular disease withPlatless (clopidogrel) among others, Samjin Dron Tab is expected to settle in the market in the short term.

 

In particular, sales growth will further accelerate as there are no generic competitors in the market.

 

Korea Pharma will launch the first generic version of Pfizer's Pristiq 100mg.

 

Pristiq’s generics are already available in the market.

 

In 2020, 4 domestic pharmaceutical companies entered the market with salt-modified drugs that evaded the patents.

 

Therefore, the currently available follow-on drugs have different ingredients from the original product.

 

Whereas Pfizer's Pristiq contains desvenlafaxine succinate monohydrate, the salt-modified drugs contain desvenlafaxine benzoate or desvenlafaxine.

 

Korea Pharma’s ‘Pharma Desvenlafaxine ER Tab.

 

100mg’ is a first generic that uses the same salt as the original.

 

Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which is characterized by its low risk of drug interactions and a low risk of side effects such as hypertension and sexual dysfunction.

 

Last year, Pristiq generated sales of KRW 7.2 billion according to IQVIA.

 

Its sales have been declining with newer generics gradually gaining influence in the market.

 

A representative from Korea Pharma said, "Pharma Desvenlafaxine ER Tab is a competitive product that was first approved with the same salt formulation as the original Pristiq ER Tab.

 

We plan to quickly land and expand our market share through active sales activities." Samjin Pharmaceutical and Hankook Pharma's products received an insurance price of 59.5% of the original’s insurance ceiling price instead of 53.55% because the two companies have listed the first and only first generics.

 

As a result, Samjin Dron Tab was listed at KRW 808 and Pharma Desvenlafaxine ER Tab at KRW 742 in Korea.

 

Their original versions, Multaq Tab and Pristiq ER Tab are priced at KRW 1,357 and KRW 1,247, respectively.