Mothers joins competition to develop Orlistat tablets

Phase III clinical trial approved with CMG, medication compliance improvement benefits

Original Product, Xenical

Orlistat, generic for Xenical, a fat absorption inhibitor used in the treatment of obesity, is being actively developed to change the product from capsules to tablets.

 

CMG & Motherspharm are accelerating product commercialization.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the Phase III trial plan of ZEROfat tablets on Motherspharm.

 

ZEROfat tablets were developed after the development of fat absorption inhibitors, Orlistat.

 

Motherspharm has ZEROfat capsules with the same ingredients.

 

Currently all 24 Orlistat formulations approved in Korea are capsules.

 

The reason Motherspharm develops a formulation change is that tablets are more convenient to store and higher medication compliance than capsules.

 

Capsules contain gelatin, which can cause digestive problems, making patients less compliant with the medication.

 

In addition, tablets are known to be resistant to higher temperatures and humidity than capsules, and have the advantage of being easy to store and carry.

 

Tablets can also be divided.

 

Orlistat is widely prescribed in the domestic obesity drug market, so if tablets with increased medication compliance are expected, the demand will be high.

 

The domestic Orlistat market is estimated to be about ₩25 billion.

 

Orlistat, unlike other psychotropic obesity drugs that stimulate the central nervous system and suppress appetite, inhibits the function of lipolytic enzyme lipase to reduce the body's absorption of fat.

 

CMG Pharm is also developing Orlistat tablets.

 

In last September, the company received a phase III trial plan for CMG Orlistat tablets 120mg and is working on commercializing products.

 

Both CMG and Mothers are likely to have success in commercialization as they have entered phase III clinical trials with formulation changes.

 

Of the two companies, it is noted who will receive the product license first.