Fosamax 10mg·Pletaal OD Tab has been withdrawn

Inferior to other brands, failed introduction plan, eventually withdrew from Korea

Otsuka

MSD Korea's osteoporosis treatment Fosamax, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical's antiplatelet drug Pletaal OD Tab will be withdrawn from the Korean market due to poor performance.

 

According to the MFDS on the 9th, as of the 8th, MSD Korea's Fosamax 10mg (Alendronic acid), Otsuka's Pletaal OD Tab 100mg, Pletaal OD Tab 50mg, and Pletaal Powder 20% (Cilostazol) have been withdrawn.

 

Fosamax, original for Alendronic acid, is a bisphosphonate-based osteoporosis treatment and is widely used in Korea.

 

Pletaal, original for Cilostazol also has a high market share in Korea for antiplatelet drugs.

 

These items are not flagship items.

 

Fosamax includes Fosamax 70mg, Fosamax PlusD, Fosamax Plus, and Fosamax 10mg, which has been withdrawn.

 

Fosamax PlusD is MSD's flagship item.

 

Fosamax PlusD recorded an outpatient prescription amount of ₩10.9 billion based on UBIST, ₩2 billion for Fosamax Plus, and ₩2.2 billion for Fosamax 70mg.

 

There is no outpatient prescription sales of Fosamax 10mg because it is a non-reimbursement drug.

 

Fosamax 10mg is taken once a day and Fosamax 70mg, once a week.

 

Fosamax 70mg is highly preferred.

 

Accordingly, MSD also focused on marketing Fosamax 70mg, and Fosamax 10mg was eventually converted to a non-reimbursement drug in 2018, and the prescription was virtually stopped in Korea.

 

And this time with the withdrawal of the license, it was completely withdrawn from the market after entering Korea in 2008.

 

Fosamax 10mg’s indication range is wider.

 

This is because it is used for the treatment of osteoporosis by glucocorticoid (limited to postmenopausal women who did not take estrogen).

 

It was eventually withdrawn from the market due to poor performance.

 

Pletaal 50mg, Pletaal 100mg, Pletaal Powder 20%, Pletaal SR cap, Pletaal OD Tab 100mg, Pletaal OD Tab 50mg, and Pletaal SR cap 200mg are approved for domestic market.

 

But, Pletaal Powder 20%, Pletaal OD Tab 100mg, and Pletaal OD Tab 50mg have been withdrawn.

 

All drugs have been modified for convenience, but the strategy did not work well in the market.

 

All three items are non-reimbursement drugs, and they have not been properly marketed.

 

It was not difficult for Otsuka as products from other lineups are performing well in the market.

 

Looking at the amount of outpatient prescriptions based on UBIST last year, other items excluding 3 items recorded ₩25.1 billion.

 

There are many generics of Cilostazol on the market, but only the original has powder type and OD tablet type.