Series of expectorant Prospan generics enter KOR mkt

Will the market regain its past glory?

5 products from 4 companies will be reimb next month…manufactured by Daewon Pharmaceutical

Benefitted from the easy-to-meet drug pricing requirements, adult prescriptions, and the rise of respiratory diseases

Generic versions of Prospan Syrup, a drug that dominated the phyto-expectorant market in the 2000s, are again being introduced to the market.

 

Prospan Syrup, which has been resold by Kwangdong Pharmaceutical since 2012, is the only available 200mL bottle formulation of Prospan, and 7.5mL and bottle formulations of the drug are only available from Kwangdong Pharmaceutical and Youngjin Pharmaceutical.

 

However, 500mL bottle formulations from Ildong Pharmaceutical, Sama Pharm, and Pharmgen Scien are available with reimbursement.

 

In total, 5 companies are selling ivy leaf dried extracts (dried extract of ivy leaves (extraction solvent, 30% ethanol), the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Prospan Syrup.

 

In this situation, four companies will be listed for reimbursement at once next month.

 

According to the industry on the 21st, Ilsung Pharmaceuticals, Kuhnil Biopharm, and Daewoong Bio's Ivy Leaf 30% Ethanol Dried Ext 7.5mL package products will be listed on the reimbursement list from the 1st of next month.

 

Also, Nexpharm Korea and Ilsung Pharmaceuticals’ 500mL vial product will be applied reimbursement.

 

As there are more than 2 but less than 19 identical preparations available in the market, Prospa Syrup generic companies can receive the highest price if they meet the pricing criteria.

 

The products on the list met all the requirements and received the highest price of KRW 240 per packet and 32 won per mL bottle.

 

Prospan syrup was the leading phyto-expectorant with a market share of 25% in the 2000s.

 

In 2010, UBIST statistics show that outpatient prescription sales for the drug alone reached KRW 37.8 billion.

 

The frog character on the product package reflected the popularity of Prospan alone.

 

The drug, which was introduced by Ahn-gook Pharm in 2010 from Germany's Engelhard, suffered a downturn due to its switch to an over-the-counter drug.

 

In 2011, the drug was reevaluated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and converted to an over-the-counter drug, and in that year, the was covered by health insurance only for people under 12 years of age based on the principles set for the oral liquid formulation.

 

Ahn-gook Pharm released Synatura, a combination drug that contains Prospan in March 2011, and parted ways with Prospan in September of the same year.

 

After seemingly ending its relationship with the domestic market, Prospan was reintroduced to the Korean market by Kwangdong Pharmaceutical in 2012 and has remained available ever since.

 

However, Prospan failed to regain its former glory due to the rise of the use of combination drugs such as Synechura.

 

According to IQVIA statistics, Prospan’s sales last year were only KRW 500 million.

 

Nevertheless, there are reasons why generic companies are launching their respective versions.

 

First of all, the number of generics is small, so there are no concerns about receiving discounted prices through the stepped pricing system.

 

Moreover, over-the-counter syrups do not have to meet the ‘own bioequivalence testing’ requirements, so there is no burden on contract manufacturers.

 

All of the pharmaceutical companies that have received the salary this time are being supplied the drug in consignment from Daewon Pharmaceutical.

 

Another favorable factor is that adults can be prescribed Prospan with reimbursement following the change in reimbursement standards that were made in February 2019.

 

In addition, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical's launch of a conveniently packaged product in 2021 has also contributed to the upward trend.

 

Above all, the rise in demand for respiratory drugs after COVID-19 is likely to have attracted the entry of new generics.

 

More Prospan syrup generics are expected to be introduced to the market.

 

Three more pharmaceutical companies received approval for the product, including Daewon Pharmaceutical, Ilhwa, and Hutecs Korea Pharmaceutical.