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- 2026-06-20 19:57:26
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- K-Bios busy developing new CAR-NK cell therapies
- by Son, Hyung Min Mar 17, 2025 06:00am
- The domestic pharmaceutical industry is initiating clinical trials for cell therapies and confirming new possibilities. GC Cell, Isu Abxis, Vaxcell Bio Therapeutics, GI Cell, and HK Inno.N are developing CAR-NK (chimeric antigen receptor) cell therapies. CAR-NK, which is derived from allogeneic cells, has the advantage of being able to compensate for side effects caused by the use of CAR-T cell therapies. CAR-T induces cytokines such as interleukin (IL) associated with neurotoxicity, but activated NK cells generally produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). As such, CAR-NK cell therapies are less likely to cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. CAR-T cell therapy is an immune cell therapy drug created by combining genetic information that expresses CAR into the patient's T cells. CAR-T has been proven effective in hematologic cancers and has been successfully commercialized, but its disadvantages include the lack of solid tumor indications, complex production process with CRS side effects, and high cost. GC Cell drives the development of CAR-NK cell therapy#EB According to industry sources on the 15th, GC Cell has recently started the first patient administration of GCC2005 (AB-205), a CAR-NK cell therapy candidate, in a Phase I trial. GCC2005 is a CAR-NK cell therapy that has improved the short duration of existing NK cells and enhanced efficacy by co-expressing CAR and IL-15. GC Cell has developed a method for culturing large quantities of highly active, high-purity NK cells from a small amount of cord blood. The Phase I trial aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of GCC2005 in up to approximately 48 patients with relapsed/refractory NK and T-cell malignancies and to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended Phase II dose (RP2D). Artiva Biotherapeutics Last November, GC Cell signed a third-party license agreement with its US affiliate, Artiva Biotherapeutics, and MSD to develop and commercialize two CAR-NK candidate substances, GC2005 and AB-201, using the affiliate’s intellectual property rights. The three companies terminated their joint research agreement in June last year, but will now work together again with this agreement. The candidate substances included in this contract utilize GC Cell’s CAR-NK platform technology and are new anticancer drug candidates that were previously developed through joint research between Artiva and MSD. According to GC Cell, the difference between this contract and the contract terminated in June is the main entity for research and development. CAR-NK development will be carried out by GC Cell, whereas Artiva was the main entity in the previous agreement. GC Cell has secured global exclusive rights to the CAR-NK candidate substances and will lead the research and development (R&D) in the future. In preclinical studies, GCC2005 showed anticancer effects in vivo in various CD5+ T-ALL models (RPMI-8402, CCRF-CEM). GCC2005 showed higher survival rates and tumor suppression efficacy compared to the control (vehicle). GC Cell is also developing the CAR-NK therapy AB-201. AB-201 targets solid tumors such as HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and gastric cancer. Artiva received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 for a Phase I/II clinical trial plan (IND) for AB-201. Since then, GC Cell has been conducting clinical trials after receiving approval for the Phase 1 IND for AB-201 from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Australia in December last year. Through the trial, GC Cell plans to evaluate the safety and tolerability of AB-201 in patients with HER2-positive solid tumors and determine the recommended Phase II dose. Domestic companies also confirm the possibility of developing CAR-NK cell therapies Isu Abxis also recently released preclinical trial results and began full-scale development of CAR-NK cell therapies. The company's ISU104, which is under development, targets the HER3 (ErbB3) protein, which is mainly expressed in breast cancer. Isu Abxisand Seok-Ho Kim, a professor at Dong-A University's Department of Biomedical Engineering, has developed CAR-NK cells that have been engineered to express CAR cells targeting ErbB3 from cord blood-derived NK cells. The results of the research showed that when treating breast cancer cell lines with CAR-NK cells, the cancer cells were killed. Furthermore, in a mouse model implanted with breast cancer cells, ISU104-CAR-NK showed the effect of reducing the size of the tumor without any particular side effects. To date, no HER3-targeted anticancer drugs have been developed yet. Patritumab deruxtecan, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is in Phase II clinical trials by Daiichi Sankyo and MSD, is currently developed the furthest. Last year, Vaxcell Bio signed a business agreement with Bio Design Lab, a virus vector design company, to jointly develop CAR-NK cell therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Previously, Vaxcell Bio has signed MOUs with Bio Design Lab, Samsung Medical Center, and others to conduct research and development of new CAR-NK cell therapies. Under this agreement, Vaxcell Bio will provide third-generation NK cells and oversee the entire process of CAR-NK development, including research and clinical trials that meet GMP standards. Bio Design Lab will independently design and produce lentivirus vectors, one of the core technologies in CAR-NK cell therapy development. GI Innovation's affiliates GI Cell and Y Biologics signed a memorandum of understanding last year and began developing CAR-NK anticancer drugs. The two companies plan to develop anticancer drugs through GI Cell's CAR-NK cell therapy development and mass culture technology and Y Biologics' antibody discovery platform technology, Nanobody. GI Cell has completed a Phase I clinical trial in Korea for its NK cell therapy, T.O.P. NK, for patients with solid and hematological cancers. After proving the tolerability and safety of T.O.P. NK, GI Cell has been conducting a Phase IIa clinical trial since last month. GI Cell is embarking on joint research with HK Inno.N for a CAR-NK cell therapy. HK Inno.N and GI Cell are conducting basic research on 7 targets together. HK Inno.N is conducting two basic research projects on its own in addition to the joint research.
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- BESREMi lands in Big 5 Hospitals in Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 17, 2025 05:59am
- BESREMi, a new drug for polycythemia vera, has been approved for prescription at tertiary hospitals in Korea. According to the industry sources, PharmaEssentia Korea's BESREMi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b, a treatment for polycythemia vera, has recently passed the Drug Committees (DCs) of the Big 5 medical institutions in Korea, including Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Severance Hospital. As the drug’s reimbursement review is underway, the drug’s reimbursement listing is expected to quickly lead to actual prescriptions. Polycythemia vera is a rare blood disorder where a somatic cell mutation in the bone marrow abnormally activates bone marrow function and produces excessive red blood cells. It has a short survival period and is so fatal that 10~15% of patients with polycythemia vera develop myelofibrosis or leukemia within 10 years. Although hydroxyurea had been used as the standard of care, it was difficult to fundamentally cure the disease with hydroxyurea, and patients who could not be treated with hydroxyurea had limitations as there were practically no drugs available for them in Korea’s domestic reimbursement environment. BESREMi, an interferon treatment that selectively removes JAK2 mutations that cause polycythemia vera. In Korea, the drug received approval in October 2020 to treat low-risk and high-risk patients with polycythemia vera without symptomatic splenomegaly. The drug demonstrated its potential as a radical treatment for polycythemia vera in patients who had not received cytoreduction therapy or received less than 3 years of treatment with hydroxyurea. Therefore, whether the only interferon treatment option approved for polycythemia vera will be born in Korea is receiving attention. BESREMi demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the Phase III PROUD/CONTINUATION-PV trial that was conducted on polycythemia vera patients. Trial results showed that 53% of the patients in the Besremi arm achieved a complete hematological response, an improvement compared with the hydroxyurea patient arm (38%). The hematologic and molecular response rates at 72 months were also high, at 80.4% and 65.3% in low-risk and high-risk patients, respectively. Regardless of their risk, patients treated with Besremi did not require phlebotomy even 6 years after administration. Besremi is recommended as a first-line or second-line treatment for polycythemia vera in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and European Leukemia Network (ELN) guidelines, regardless of previous treatment experience.
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- Radioligand 'Pluvicto' available at tertiary gen hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 17, 2025 05:59am
- Product photo of Pluvicto 'Pluvicto,' a new drug for prostate cancer, is now available for prescription at tertiary general hospitals. According to industry sources, Novartis Korea's targeted radioligand therapy, Pluvicto (Lutetium vipivotide tetraxetan), has passed the drug committees (DC) of the 'Big 5' hospitals, including Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and Sinchon Severance Hospital, as well as the 17 medical institutes nationwide. A radioligand combines a therapeutic radioactive isotope with a ligand (targeted substance). A therapeutic radioactive isotope is released when radioligand binds to a targeted cell. This mechanism suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells. The MFDS designated Pluvicto, a treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), as the 6th medicine to be added to the 'Global Innovative products on Fast Track (GIFT)' following acknowledgment of the drug's innovativeness in June 2023. It was officially approved in May of last year. However, Pluvicto is still a non-reimbursed drug. Novartis is now preparing to apply for an insurance reimbursement listing. Pluvicto is a radioligand used to treat patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive mCRPC who have been treated with androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibition and 'taxane'-based chemotherapy. Pluvicto has been regarded as the next-generation innovative therapy that delivers a therapeutic radioisotope to prostate cancer cells by binding the radioisotope 177Lu to PSMA, ultimately killing cancer cells. Pluvicto was designated as an innovative drug and priority review drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and obtained FDA approval (March 2022). It was acknowledged for its innovativeness overseas. Meanwhile, the efficacy of Pluvicto was demonstrated through the Phase 3 VISION study. The combination therapy containing Pluvicto and the optimal standard therapy in study participants who have been previously treated with androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibition and 'taxane'-based chemotherapy reduced mortality risk by 38% compared to the standard therapy alone. It has also statistically reduced the radiographic disease progression or death by 60%. Furthermore, approximately 1/3 (30%) of patients in the combination therapy group, treated with Pluvicto+standard therapy, who can be evaluated showed an objective response, compared to 2% of the monotherapy group.
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- Lotte Biologics signs MOU with Asimov for CDMO business
- by Whang, byung-woo Mar 14, 2025 05:57am
- (Fromt the left) James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, Alec Nielsen, co-founder and CEO of Asimov Lotte Biologics (CEO: James Park) announced on the 13th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Asimov, based in Boston, Massachusetts, for collaboration in the contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business. Through the agreement, Lotte Biologics will provide services covering the entire process from cell line development to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production by utilizing Asimov's next-generation cell line development platform technology. This is expected to further the companies’ CDMO capabilities and track record. Earlier, Lotte Biologics successfully confirmed its scale-up and mass production capabilities through a test applying Asimov's proprietary cell line development platform, CHO Edge system, at the Syracuse Biocampus. This agreement is part of a collaboration to provide full-scale end-to-end services to clients based on these achievements. Asimov's CHO Edge system is a synthetic biology-based cell line development platform that accelerates the production of antibody and protein therapeutics through the genetic design and optimization of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In particular, it supports the rapid development of customized high-productivity and uniform cell lines by applying automated work processes and AI-based analysis. In addition, the CHO Edge system combined with Lotte Biologics' GMP manufacturing capabilities enables a smooth transition from cell line development to commercial production. The company believes that this will be an important turning point in expanding the scope of Asimov's business along with the expansion of its CDMO business. In addition, the signing of the MOU is expected to maximize the benefits of Lotte Biologics' US production base. James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, said, “I hope this agreement will serve as an opportunity to maximize the strengths of both companies. We will continue to provide differentiated services to our customers by bringing synergy with Asimov's technology and Lotte Biologics' production capacity, while striving to become a company that contributes to the development of the bio-industry and, ultimately, to the improvement of the quality of life of patients.”
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- "More BTK inhibitor options for MCL, Brukinsa as alt choice"
- by Whang, byung-woo Mar 14, 2025 05:57am
- Changes to the treatment settings have been brought to Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with the launching of new treatments like BTK inhibitors and implementing reimbursement. As the 2nd-generation BTK inhibitors are introduced, treatment options have been broadened for relapsed or refractory MCL, where treatment options have been limited to 1st-generation BTK inhibitors. Dr. Youngwoo Jeon, a Professor in the Department of Hematology at Yeouido St MaryDuring a meeting with Daily Pharm, Dr. Youngwoo Jeon, a Professor in the Department of Hematology at Yeouido St Mary's Hospital, who runs the only Lymphoma and Cell Therapy-Research Center in South Korea, emphasized the need to discuss ways to effectively utilize treatment options. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for approximately 5% of all NHL cases. MCL shows aggressive clinical features. Unlike typical lymphoma that starts in lymph nodes, MCL occurs in organs where lymph nodes are not located. Patients often transfer from dermatology, oncology, and gastroenterology to hematology. Five years ago in South Korea, the annual new patient number was about 80. Now, that there are about 100-110 new patients each year. "According to international classification standards, extranodal T-cell lymphoma is typically considered indolent; however, once it surpasses a critical threshold, it can proliferate rapidly, like DLBCL, and requires immediate treatment," Dr. Jeon said. "Even if the disease initially progresses slowly, the short time between diagnosis and treatment means clinicians on the front lines inevitably perceive it as aggressive." In the case of MCL, the development of new treatment options, including standard therapies, has been slow, and treatment protocols or strategies have only been established relatively recently. As a result, treatment approaches have been sporadic and often based on available economic discretion, implying that patients have been treated drugs designed for other types of lymphoma treatments. Previously, combination treatments such as CHOP (rituximab+cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone) were primarily used. Patients with poor ECOG were administered treatments that have lower-toxicity, such as follicular lymphoma treatments like R-CVP (rituximab+cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisone). In addition to these options, patients have the choice to pay for BR treatment (bendamustine+rituximab) out-of-pocket. "Expanded option to include BTK inhibitors is regarded favorable, 2nd generation with reduced side-effects gains attention" The remaining issue lies in the relapse and treatment resistance seen in MCL. Many patients present with a poor prognosis at diagnosis, and given the nature of indolent lymphomas, which are notoriously difficult to cure, the sequencing of treatments becomes increasingly critical. Dr. Jeon explained, "Full recovery is challenging for indolent lymphomas like MCL. Thus, we adopt a strategy similar to that used in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia, focusing on maximizing progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, because relapse is frequent, it is difficult to aim for a cure from the very first treatment line, so we carefully plan the treatment sequence for when the disease relapses." In response to these unmet therapeutic needs, BTK inhibitors have emerged. In addition to the 1st-generation agents, a 2nd-generation treatment, like Brukinsa (zanubrutinib), has been introduced. Since June 2024, reimbursement for Brukinsa has been expanded to include its use as monotherapy for patients with MCL who have received at least one prior treatment. Dr. Jeon analyzed, "The introduction of oral targeted anticancer agents, such as first- and second-generation BTK inhibitors, has greatly improved patient treatment convenience. Under conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, patients typically endured cycles of deterioration and improvement over more than a year of hospital admissions, often leading to death. Because patients can self-administer the medication and only need to manage side effects, treatment accessibility has been significantly enhanced." In fact, the 1st-generation BTK inhibitor, Ibrutinib, has shown outcomes that surpass those observed in clinical trials, as evidenced by over seven years of real-world data (RWD). "In about two years, we expect RWD on the second-generation BTK inhibitor, Brukinsa, will become available," Dr. Jeon said. "Based on results with 1st-generation BTK inhibitors, Brukinsa's data are expected to be very favorable. Although it has only been a short time, its satisfactory performance in the clinical setting is very encouraging." Dr. Jeon has highlighted that a characteristic of 2nd-generation BTK inhibitors is their enhanced selectivity for BTK. Typically, when a drug affects unintended targets, it can lead to adverse events such as cardiac hemorrhage, referred to as an off-target effect. 2nd-generation agents like Brukinsa have been designed to minimize these off-target effects. Dr. Jeon said, "These agents have reduced the incidence of hematologic bleeding and cardiac issues seen in clinical trials to around 7–8%, less than half of previous rates, which is very encouraging," adding, "However, in real-world clinical practice, we focus more on managing gastrointestinal disturbances and onycholysis, side effects that can significantly impact patient adherence during long-term treatment." "The criteria for BTK inhibitors are limiting…patient's life-long use of treatments must be considered" Despite both 1st- and 2nd-generation BTK inhibitors being eligible for reimbursement, a significant limitation remains: if a patient fails on a 1st-generation BTK inhibitor, subsequent BTK inhibitor therapy is not reimbursable. Patients only have one opportunity for BTK inhibitor treatment when considering treatment sequencing. Dr. Jeon had about five to six patients on 1st-generation BTK inhibitors that have been switched with Brukinsa. Dr. Jeon explains that while patients already stabilized on 1st-generation therapy typically continue, new patients are generally started on Brukinsa whenever possible. Yet, Dr. Jeon stressed that even though switching between 1st- and 2nd-generation therapies that both target the same molecule can be justifiable, it is critical to remember that these drugs are intended for lifelong use. "Patients on 1st-generation BTK inhibitors often suffer from severe nausea and vomiting that disrupt their daily lives. In such cases, switching to Brukinsa, which has reduced off-target effects, has produced notably positive outcomes," Dr. Jeon said. "It appears that the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) considers switching unnecessary because the treatment offers a refined version of the same target," Dr. Jeon said. "Because forcing patients to endure painful side effects for a lifetime is like torture, 2nd-generation BTK inhibitors will represent an excellent alternative." Finally, Dr. Jeon emphasized the urgent need to adopt CAR‑T therapies as a third-line treatment for MCL quickly. "While CAR‑T therapy is already being implemented as third-line treatment overseas, it is not yet approved domestically, so they are available for use. However, the HIRA must propose an alternative so Korean patients could eventually receive treatment on par with those in other G20 countries," Dr. Jeon said. "Approximately 85% of patients are filtered out during second-line BTK inhibitor treatment, leaving very few who progress to third-line treatments," Dr. Jeon said. "Although these treatments are high-cost, the financial burden is likely minimal due to the small patient population."
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- Takadea's metastatic colorectal cancer drug Fruzqla wins nod
- by Whang, byung-woo Mar 14, 2025 05:57am
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Korea announced on March 13 that its metastatic colorectal cancer treatment, Fruzqla (fruquintinib), received domestic marketing approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on March 6. The efficacy·effectiveness of Fruzqla has been demonstrated for adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have previously been treated with a chemotherapy containing fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan plus an anti-VEGF or anti-EGFR agent (for patients with wild-type RAS), and whose disease has progressed or who does not show tolerability following treatment with trifluridine/tipiracil and/or regorafenib. With this approval, a new treatment option is now available to improve overall survival for metastatic colorectal cancer patients who, due to limited options in treating later stages of cancer, have not received adequate treatment. Fruzqla is a small-molecule VEGFR-TKI that selectively targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)-1, 2, and 3, thereby selectively inhibiting the neoangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of cancer cells. By avoiding unnecessary targets other than VEGFR-1, 2, and 3, the drug achieves high exposure and sustained target inhibition, while its once-daily oral administration enhances patient convenience. The approval of Fruzqla was based on a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 691 adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have received prior treatments. Study results showed that the median overall survival (mOS) in the Fruzqla group was 7.4 months, which is significantly longer than the 4.8 months observed in the placebo group, resulting in a 34% reduction in the risk of death. Additionally, the Fruzqla group had a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 3.7 months, more than double the 1.8 months in the placebo group, corresponding to a 68% reduction in disease progression or death risk. Mahender Nayak, Takeda Pharmaceutical Korea' Senior Vice President for Growth & Emerging Market, stated, "Fruzqla is a new treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer that has emerged after over a decade and can be used regardless of specific biomarkers. We expect it to offer favorable tolerability and to improve both quality of life and survival outcomes for patients who needed additional treatment options in the later stages of anticancer therapy." Nayak added, "Fruzqla is already approved in several countries worldwide, including South Korea, the United States, Europe, and Japan. Takeda Pharmaceuticals Korea will continue to work to supply innovative new drugs and enhance treatment accessibility to meet the unmet needs of cancer patients."
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- GSK Korea releases myelofibrosis drug Ojjara in Korea
- by Whang, byung-woo Mar 14, 2025 05:57am
- GSK Korea announced on the 12th that it has launched Ojjara (momelotinib), a treatment for myelofibrosis, in Korea. Ojjara was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in September last year as a treatment for adults with anemia at intermediate or high risk of myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis). Ojjara has a unique triple-inhibition mechanism that blocks JAK1, JAK2, and ACVR1 (Activin A Receptor Type 1). In the treatment of myelofibrosis, inhibition of JAK1 and JAK2 can contribute to the improvement of systemic symptoms and reduction of splenomegaly in patients, while inhibition of ACVR1 can help alleviate anemia by inducing a reduction in hepcidin expression. With this launch, Ojjara is expected to significantly improve anemia, which has remained an unmet need in the domestic treatment environment for myelofibrosis, while also settling as a treatment option that can improve systemic symptoms and splenomegaly, which are existing treatment goals. Managing anemia is one of the unmet needs in the treatment of existing patients with myelofibrosis. Anemia, which increases the need for blood transfusions, causes more than just dizziness, and depending on the severity, it can lead to a serious condition that can be life-threatening. The Phase 3 SIMPLIFY-1 and MOMENTUM studies have shown that, regardless of prior treatment with JAK inhibitors, Ojjara can significantly improve the main symptoms of splenomegaly and transfusion dependence in the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis with anemia. In the SIMPLIFY-1 study, which confirmed the clinical efficacy and safety of Ojjara compared to that of JAK inhibitors in the first-line treatment of patients with myelofibrosis who had no prior experience with JAK inhibitors, Ojjara demonstrated non-inferiority to JAK inhibitors in the primary endpoint of spleen volume response at week 24 of treatment. The proportion of transfusion independence in each patient group was 66.5% for the Ojjara arm and 49.3% for the ruxolitinib arm, indicating that Ojjara showed significantly less transfusion dependency. “While JAK inhibitors, which were used in the treatment of myelofibrosis, showed effects in alleviating splenomegaly and systemic symptoms, they worsened anemia or increased the need for blood transfusions, which left an unmet need,” said Seo-yeon Ahn, Professor of Hematology & Oncology at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, “Ojjara has confirmed its significant clinical value in managing anemia, which is closely related to the prognosis of patients with myelofibrosis, and we expect that its launch in Korea will contribute to improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life of more patients.” Ojjara was designated an orphan drug in Korea after demonstrating improved efficacy and safety compared to existing alternative drugs, and the fact that there are less than 20,000 people with myelofibrosis in Korea.
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- Enhertu seeks reimb for HER2-low breast cancer and NSCLC
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 14, 2025 05:56am
- The ADC anticancer drug 'Enhertu' has started a new reimbursement journey in Korea. According to industry sources, Daiichi Sankyo Korea submitted an application to receive reimbursement for two additional indications of its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) in December last year and recently began discussions with the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Specifically, the company applied for reimbursement of the following indications: ▲ the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low expression (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have previously received systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or have relapsed during, or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy, in the case of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients, those who have received additional endocrine therapy or are not suitable for endocrine therapy; and ▲ patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with an activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutation in the tumor who have previously received systemic therapy including platinum-based chemotherapy. These indications were approved in Korea in May 2024. Enhertu was first listed as a treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer in April of the same year, but there have been persistent calls for the prompt expansion of its coverage to the HER2 low-expression indication, which is currently under discussion. In fact, a petition calling for the expansion of Enhertu’s reimbursement has garnered the support of more than 50,000 people. Therefore, it will be interesting to see whether Enhertu will be reimbursed for breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression and the newly added lung cancer indication. Meanwhile, Enhertu has confirmed its efficacy for 2 additional indications through the DESTINY-Breast04 and DESTINY-Lung02 studies. DESTINY-Breast04 compared the efficacy and safety of Enhertu and a chemotherapy regimen of the physician’s choice (capecitabine, eribulin, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and nab-paclitaxel) in 557 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer who had previously received first or second lines of chemotherapy. Results showed that the median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the Enhertu group in the cohort of patients with hormone receptor-positive tumors was 10.1 months, demonstrating a significant improvement compared to the 5.4 months of the control group. Enhertu also reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 50% compared to the control group in the overall patient cohort, which included both hormone receptor-positive and negative tumors. In addition, Enhertu showed antitumor activity in the second-line treatment of HER2-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the DESTINY-Lung02 study. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Enhertu in patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed after one or more systemic therapy treatments, including platinum-based chemotherapy. Results showed Enhertu recorded a confirmed objective response rate (Confirmed ORR) of 49%, complete response (CR) of 1%, and partial response (PR) of 48%, as assessed by a blinded independent central review (BICR).
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- Wegovy dominates the obesity drug market
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Mar 13, 2025 05:59am
- The introduction of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has shaken the market substantially. Since its launch in Q4, Wegovy has captured 60% of the entire market. Given the introduction of Wegovy, the obesity market expanded to the largest in history. It also consumed the market for Saxenda, containing the same class of active ingredients as Weogvy. It is unclear whether such growth will continue because of restricted non-face-to-face medical prescriptions of obesity drugs. However, the market continues to shake up whenever effective and safe new obesity drugs from multinational companies are launched. Record sales in 2024 obesity drug market…Wegovy's Q4 sales amounted to KRW 60.3 billion, with 64% market share According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA, on March 10, last year's obesity drug market amounted to KRW 236.3 billion, up 32.8% compared to the previous year. The obesity drug market continued to set the largest size for seven consecutive years since 2018, exceeding KRW 200 billion for the first time in history. Last year's growth of the obesity drug market was led by Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Wegovy launched in October last year and recorded KRW 60.3 billion in three months. Quarterly sales figures for key products in the obesity drug market. (Legend from left) Wegovy, Qsymia, Saxenda, obesity drug market (unit: KRW 100 million, source: IQVIA) Wegovy received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in April 2023. It is a GLP-1-containing semaglutide that has been shown to reduce glycated hemoglobin. While conducting clinical trials for GLP-1 diabetes treatment candidates, Novo Nordisk confirmed the effects of lowering patient body weight and developed semaglutide-containing Wegovy as an obesity drug with a once-weekly formulation. Last year's Q4 obesity market size amounted to KRW 93.8 billion, an expansion of 154.5% Year-over-Year (YoY). Wegovy accounted for 64.4% of the entire obesity drug market. Wegovy is trending globally with its outstanding weight loss effects. Wegovy recorded last year's sales of NOK 58.2 billion (About KRW 11.7 trillion), an increase of 85.7% compared to 2023 sales of NOK 31.3 billion. Since its launch in the United States, the drug has been sold out with a rapid increase in demand. Before its official launch, Wegovy was already regarded as a secret weight loss solution among celebrities, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and there was a global shortage. Despite being priced KRW 500,000 higher than the other drugs, Wegovy generated significant interest following its domestic launch and was in short supply. Due to the introduction of Wegovy, the sales of Saxenda and Qsymia, which previously dominated the obesity drug market, have significantly decreased. Last year, Saxenda recorded sales of KRW 65.6 billion, down 1.7% from the previous year. The decrease in sales of Saxenda was seen three years after 2021. Saxenda reported a significant decline in sales in Q4 of last year. Saxenda's sales in Q4 of last year amounted to KRW 7.3 billion, down 27.3% YoY. The sales declined by 78.9% in a quarter from KRW 18.9 billion in Q3 of last year. Analysis suggests Wegovy, a GLP-1 drug similar to Saxenda, has captured the market for Saxenda. However, Qsymia's sales have not changed much since the launch of Wegovy. Qsymia recorded sales of KRW 39.1 billion last year, up 10.1% from the previous year. In Q4 last year, when Wegovy launched, Qsymia recorded sales of KRW 9.3 billion, down 7.1% from the previous year. However, it is unclear whether Wegovy will show marked growth this year. Previously, Wegovy was prescribed through non-face-to-face medical sessions. As concerns have been raised regarding unrestricted prescription of Wegovy through non-face-to-face medical sessions regardless of weight or obesity status, the health authority discontinued non-face-to-face prescription of obesity drugs as of December 16, 2024. The obestiy drug market fluctuates whenever new drugs launch…Saxenda has led the market for the past five years The obesity drug market underwent restructuring whenever promising new products are launched. Products containing sibutramine, which inhibits appetite, sold the most and once dominated the market. However, it has no longer been in sale due to the risk of cardiovascular side effects since 2010. The Korean market of obesity drug market was sluggish for a long time. Once worth a market size of KRW 116.2 billion in 2009, it dropped to KRW 66.7 billion over five years. Since 2015, the introduction of new products has led to a rebound in the market. In February 2015, Ildong Pharmaceutical obtained domestic approval for 'Belviq,' which the company acquired from the U.S.-based Arena Pharmaceuticals and led the recovery of the entire market. Belviq selectively works on the neurotransmitter serotonin receptor, which regulates appetite and emotion, suppressing appetite and increasing meal-related satiety. It has gained attention for being the new drug approved for weight-loss medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 13 years. Kwang-dong Pharm has contributed to the market expansion after launching 'Contrave' in 2016. Kwang-dong Pharm acquired Contrave from the U.S.-based biotech company Orexigen Therapeutics. Contrave was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2015, and it is used to manage the weight of adults who are overweight or obese. After the launching of Belviq and Contrave, the obesity drug market expanded to KRW 92.8 billion and KRW 96.8 billion in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Yearly obesity drug market size (unit: KRW 100 million, source: IQVIA). Belviq, Saxenda, and Wegovy were launched in 2015, 2019, and 2024, respectively. Saxenda, launched in Korea in 2018, is the first glucagon-like GLP-1 agonist medication for obesity. It contains the same ingredient as Victoza (ingredient: liraglutide), which is prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes but with different methods of administration and dosages. Saxenda became the top-selling drug in the market after recording sales of KRW 42.6 billion in 2019, just after its launch, and maintained the place for five consecutive years until 2023. Saxenda recorded sales of KRW 66.8 billion in 2023. Saxenda took up a 37.5% market share of the obesity market in 2023. The obesity drug market set a record in 2019 with KRW 134.1 billion in 10 years. In 2023, it recorded KRW 178 billion, setting a record for five consecutive years. Qsymia, marketed by Alvogen Korea, has also contributed to the expansion of the obesity drug market. Launched in late 2019, Qsymia is a combination therapy containing 'phentermine' and 'topiramate.' Alvogen Korea secured domestic sales rights from the U.S.-based VIVUS in 2017. In late 2019, Alvogen Korea signed a co-promotion agreement with Chong Kun Dang to begin full-scale domestic sales. Qsymia recorded sales of KRW 35.5 billion in 2023. The sales of Qsymia were comparable to Saxenda. Despite oral administration, Qsymia has a relatively small amount of psychotropic drug ingredients, and it has the advantage that it can be prescribed for an extended period. Alvogen Korea's extensive sales networks in the domestic obesity market, gained from its previous experience selling Furing and Furimin, synergized with Chong Kun Dang's business power to penetrate the market with Qsymia rapidly. With the launch of Wegovy last year, the obesity drug market underwent another restructuring, and the introduction of Mounjaro and other next-generation obesity treatments is expected to reshape the landscape further. Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro received approval from the MFDS in June 2023. Mounjaro, a once-weekly injectable, is a next-generation GLP-1 analog that activates GLP-1 and GIP receptors. It has been demonstrated that Mounjaro has superior weight loss compared to Wegovy.
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- "High hopes for Blincyto as consolidation therapy for ALL"
- by Whang, byung-woo Mar 13, 2025 05:58am
- Blincyto (blinatumomab), a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is approved for an expanded indication as a consolidation therapy. Its role in clinical settings will be broadened. Experts view that having more treatment options is favorable, as the consolidation therapy option has been limited following the first-line treatment of B-precursor ALL until now. Dr. Jae-Ho Yoon, Professor in the Department of Hematology at Seoul St. MaryOn March 12, Amgen hosted a press conference celebrating the approval of an expanded indication for Blincyto as a consolidation therapy to treat B-precursor ALL. The company highlighted the potential role of the drug. On the 14th of last month, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) granted approval of indication for Blincyto as a consolidation therapy for Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-negative) B-precursor ALL. The approval broadened the treatment area of the drug from treating adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL with minimal residual disease (MRD) to treating adults of young children with Ph- B-cell precursor ALL as a consolidation therapy up to Stage 4. Patients with Ph- B-cell precursor ALL are known to relapse often despite reaching MRD negative through remission induction therapy using existing chemotherapy. Patients with ALL may experience difficulties in long-term survival despite undergoing stem cell transplantation. Therefore, ALL still has high unmet needs. Approval of a new indication for Blincyto as a consolidation therapy for patients who already had induction therapy using existing chemotherapy has gained attention since it was based on clinical data demonstrating statistically significant effects on patients diagnosed early or who relapsed. According to the E1910 clinical study results, administering Blincyto as the first-line consolidation therapy after chemotherapy to adult patients (n=112) with B-precursor cell ALL who had MRD-negative remission (
