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- 2026-04-12 22:51:50
- Company
- Changes in the lung cancer treatment market are detected
- by Mar 07, 2022 05:50am
- Changes are detected in the EGFR targeted anticancer drug market, which Tagrisso dominated. Tagrisso sales stagnated for the first time due to sluggish primary treatment benefits. Leclaza, the only domestic new drug in the market, is threatening Tagrisso. According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical research institute, on the 5th, the size of the domestic EGFR TKI market last year was 156.4 billion won, up 2.8% from 152.1 billion won a year earlier. Compared to the growth trend so far, it has slowed down somewhat. The market surged from 55.4 billion won in 2017 to 104.3 billion won in 2018 and 132.2 billion won in 2019. Tagrisso's sales stood at 106.5 billion won last year, the same as the previous year. Tagrisso, which had been increasing sales at a frightening pace for four years since its approval in 2016, suffered a stagnation for the first time last year. Tagrisso is the first third-generation EGFR-TKI in Korea. It is a next-generation targeted anticancer drug following the first generation Iressa, Tarceva, and second generation Giotrif and Vizimpro. Tagrisso was first listed in December 2017 after being approved as a secondary treatment in May 2016. Sales of Tagrisso jumped from 2.3 billion won in 2016 to 10.3 billion won in 2017, and surged to 59.4 billion won in 2018. It surpassed 100 billion won for the first time, raising 106.5 billion won in 2020 following 79.2 billion won in 2019. However, it did not exceed 100 billion won last year. This is in contrast to a 16% increase in global sales from $4.3 billion to $5 billion last year. This is analyzed as a result of reflecting the specificity of the Korean market. Tagrisso obtained a primary treatment indication for EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer in December 2018 and began to expand the benefit, but failed to pass the Cancer Disease Review Committee of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for three years. Since then, AstraZeneca has appealed for Asian effects by submitting FLAURA China data for Chinese people, but failed to pass the Cancer Disease Review Committee in November last year. Another factor that caused congestion was the emergence of a new domestic drug Leclaza. Leclaza is a third-generation EGFR TKI developed by Yuhan Corporation. In January of last year, it was approved as the 31st new drug in Korea and was listed in July of that year. It was registered 165 days after the permit while quickly applying for insurance registration. Leclaza is also the only domestic treatment in the EGFR targeted anticancer drug market. Leclaza quickly entered large hospitals and made full-fledged sales in the second half of last year. Sales for the first six months amounted to 4.1 billion won. This is the highest sales in the past six months among new anticancer drugs developed in Korea. Yuhan Corporation is chasing Tagrisso by entering a global phase 3 with the aim of indicating Leclaza's primary treatment. Beringer Ingelheim's Giotrif stood at 22 billion won last year, up 18.4% from 18.6 billion won the previous year. Giotrif is steadily increasing its sales to 10.9 billion won in 2017, 13.6 billion won in 2018, and 16.6 billion won in 2019. Iressa fell 14.1% from 19.6 billion won in 2020 to 16.8 billion won last year. Tarceva also fell 23.6% from 7.3 billion won to 5.6 billion won. First-generation EGFR-TKI, which once accounted for 80% of the market, gave way to next-generation drugs, falling to 14%.
- Company
- Immuno-oncology drugs make ₩400 billion after 7 years
- by Mar 07, 2022 05:49am
- The immuno-oncology drug market exceeded ₩400 billion in annual sales only 7 years since its debut in Korea. With Keytruda in the lead making over ₩200 billion in sales, the latecomers Tecentriq and Imfinzi are chasing the lead with its rapid growth. According to the market research institution IQVIA on the 4th, the total immuno-oncology treatment that consists of 6 immuno-oncology drugs in Korea has made ₩407 billion last year, a ₩285.6 billion increase and a 42.5% YoY increase from the previous year. This record was made in 7 years since the first immuno-oncology drug Yervoy (Ipilimumab) was approved in December 2014. The release of Yervoy marked the start era of immuno-oncology treatments in Korea. Since then, Ono Pharamcueitals’ Opdivo (nivolumab), MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Roche’s Tecentriq (atezolizumab), AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab), Merck’s Bavencio (avelumab) followed, recording a total of 6 immuno-oncology drugs to be sold in the Korean market. ◆'Keytruda’s sales exceed ₩200 billion… ‘Opdivo’ shows later growth ' Half of the ₩400 billion immuno-oncology drug market is currently occupied by Keytruda. Keytruda made ₩200.1 billion to top pharmaceutical sales in Korea last year. This is the second consecutive year Keytruda has topped the leaderboard since it first recorded took the lead in 2020. Looking back on its sales for the past 5 years, Keytruda first sold ₩12.2 billion in 2017, then rose 476.2% the next year after reimbursement to make ₩70.3 billion in 2018. In 2019 it made ₩124.8 billion, then ₩155.7 billion in 2020, a 77.5% and 24.8% YoY growth, respectively. Then, the drug’s sales exceeded ₩200 billion for the first time last year. With its reimbursement applied to first-line treatment in NSCLC, its sales are again expected to show rapid growth this year. The 2nd place was Opdivo, which recorded ₩85 billion in sales last year. This is a 27.4% YoY increase from the previous year. Opdivo’s sales jumped from ₩12.5 billion to ₩57.5 billion after it was listed for reimbursement in 2017, then slowed down to maintain the ₩67 billion range in 2019 and 2020, then again gained growth last year. However, Opdivo has made relatively slow growth compared to Keytruda, which received approval on the same day. Opdivo is seeking external growth by increasing its indications. After receiving approval in the first-line for non-small cell lung cancer in December 2020, it also added a first-line indication for gastric cancer last year and became the first immuno-oncology drug to add a first-line indication in the field. The company also added 5 more indications this year. ◆Latecomers Tecentriq and Opdivo succeed by targeting unattended markets The relative latecomers Tecentriq and Opdivo are intently chasing the leaders at a rapid pace. The drugs, which have entered the market 2-4 years later than Ketruda·Opdivo, have rapidly penetrated the unattended markets. Tecentriq, which made ₩0.7 billion the first year, recorded ₩4.4 billion the following year. In 2019, its sales rose 238.6% to record ₩14.9 billion. Also, Tecentriq’s sales rose over twofold last year to ₩37 billion in 2020. Last year, its sales rose 81.6% to record ₩67.2 billion. Tecentriq was the first PD-L1 immuno-oncology drug to be introduced to Korea. The drug was first indicated for bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma), an area that Keytruda and Opdivo hadn’t entered at the time. Also, the drug was the first to enter the field of triple-negative breast cancer. It was also relevantly quickly introduced into the reimbursement setting, in one year since its approval. The company embraced the government’s ‘'performance-based reimbursement proposal' in 2019 to accelerate reimbursement expansion for its drug. Imfinzi, which was approved in December 2018, also made over ₩50 billion in annual sales only 3 years after its release. Imfinzi’s sales which recorded ₩3.4 billion in 2019, jumped 7 times to record ₩24.6 billion in just a single year. Last year, its sales grew 91% to record ₩47.1 billion.
- Company
- Organon is focusing on expanding the women's health lineup
- by Mar 07, 2022 05:49am
- The demand for unmet diseases related to women's entire life cycle was relatively high. Organon will focus on improving treatment accessibility so that all women can enjoy healthier daily lives." At a press conference held by Organon for the first time since its launch at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 2nd, CEO Kim So-eun made the remarks about the company's vision. Kim Soeun, CEO of Oganon Korea Organon, which spun off from MSD, was officially launched in June last year. Founded in the Netherlands in 1923, Organon was merged with Organon and absorbed into MSD. After about a decade, it was separated from MSD again. Organon, headquartered in New Jersey, USA, has subsidiaries and six manufacturing facilities in more than 60 countries around the world. More than 60 products are supplied to 140 countries. Organon focuses on three areas: women's health, chronic diseases, and biosimilars. Women's health includes women's inherent diseases or diseases that can have a significant impact on women. In chronic diseases, it has about 50 treatments for cardiovascular, respiratory, dermatology, musculoskeletal system, and urinary system. Biosimilars have five products in cooperation with Samsung Bioepis. Fosamax, Atozet, Cozaar, Propecia, etc. are representative. The chronic disease sector accounts for the majority with 70%. CEO Kim said, "We plan to expand our portfolio by identifying women's health needs that are not met in all women's life cycles such as pregnancy and childbirth, and we plan to explore new indications and expand our lineup in chronic diseases." Since its actual launch, Organon has aggressively expanded its portfolio. In June last year, it acquired Alydia Health, a women's health medical device company. Alydia is a company that developed the JADA system, a postpartum bleeding solution. In July, it signed a global license agreement with ObsEva, which developed a premature birth treatment solution. In December, it then acquired Forendo, which has a pipeline of endocrinology-related treatment solutions such as endometrium. CEO Kim said, "We are working on commercializing postpartum bleeding solutions and endocrine treatments outside the United States, and we will make sure that new solutions can be accessed as soon as possible." Organon is preparing for competition of generic for Atozet, which accounts for the largest portion of sales. CEO Kim said, "Generics for Atozet were released last year. We plan to make efforts to expand sales. "We plan to introduce JADA, which was released first in the U.S., in Korea in the near future, and we are looking for new opportunities such as expansion and introduction of indications in other chronic diseases."
- Opinion
- [Reporter's view] Consistency in the post evaluation
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Mar 07, 2022 05:49am
- Re-evaluation of drugs is underway. The move is aimed at preventing waste of health insurance benefits due to insufficient drugs to verify efficacy. Accordingly, the MFDS is playing a leading role in re-evaluating clinical trials and the HIRA is playing a leading role in re-evaluating the adequacy of benefits. The problem is that there is no consistency in selecting the target drug as the re-evaluation is carried out separately. The MFDS goes through clinical re-evaluation procedures if it fails to prove that it is currently not used in developed countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada, called A8 during the license renewal process. The HIRA is also based on the benefit performance of A8 countries. However, compared to the MFDS, it is excluded from the re-evaluation only if there are two or more countries' performance. However, the HIRA started re-evaluating the adequacy of benefits from the 2020 Choline alfoscerate, a brain function improvement drug. In addition, it targets ingredients worth more than 0.1% of the annual claims and about 20 billion won, so there are not many ingredients subject to revaluation per year. Six ingredients were selected this year and eight next year. The agency in charge of drug approval and registration conducted re-evaluation on different criteria, making it impossible to ensure consistency in the results. Of course, the MFDS verifies the efficacy and the HIRA evaluates the appropriateness of benefits, but basically, it is the same to determine whether the drug is effective or not. The verification of 'clinical usefulness' is the most important indicator for both institutions. Enteron, which went through a re-evaluation last year, was recognized for its appropriateness in treating ophthalmic disorders such as retinal and choroid circulation. The MFDS is also conducting a clinical re-evaluation of the indications, and in the process, the efficacy and effect were limited due to eye disorders in diabetic patients. Streptokinase and Streptodornase, which are subject to revaluation this year, are expected to produce clinical revaluation results next year. This is also a situation where we cannot guarantee the results of this year and next year. Basically, if the MFDS grants a drug license, the HIRA will establish standard based on the license. However, this basic procedure is ignored in the revaluation. Whether the MFDS verifies its efficacy through clinical re-evaluation or not, the re-evaluation will be conducted separately. Conversely, clinical re-evaluation proceeds regardless of clinical usefulness in re-evaluation. It is meaningless for drugs that have not been recognized for their clinical usefulness in revaluation and have been expelled from benefit to be recognized for their efficacy in clinical revaluation. Pharmaceutical companies with Streptokinase and Streptodornase, which are undergoing clinical re-evaluation, are worried about this. Some think that the HIRA is an affiliated organization of the MOHW, and the MFDS is a different independent ministry, so each of them tried to demonstrate their capabilities in the re-evaluation. It is unlikely that the problem will be solved because there is no ministry to adjust this. Anyway, drug licensing and benefit evaluation should be done by an independent institution to be a better choice for national health. The important thing is to keep the basics. The MFDS determines the exact efficacy of the drug, and the HIRA determines whether to pay based on this and applies it to post-reevaluation.
- Company
- First RSA drug ‘Erbitux’ to receive second reevaluations
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 04, 2022 05:57am
- The term of risk-sharing agreements of major anticancer drugs are again nearing expiry. Starting with Merck’s ‘Erbitux (cetuximab), the first drug to be reimbursed with the RSA scheme in Korea, a series of other drugs are also awaiting reevaluations until 2023. According to industry sources, the colorectal cancer treatment Erbitux’s RSA term expires in June. Also, RSA terms for Astella’s ‘Xtandi (enzalutamide),’ Amgen’s ‘Kyprolis (carfilzomib),’ Lilly’s ‘Cyramza (ramucirumab),’ Janssen’s ‘Darzalex (daratumumab),’ Biogen’s ‘Spinraza (nusinercen),’ Sanofi’s ‘Dupixent (dupilumab)’ is nearing expiry. With reevaluations imminent, the mixed concerns held by the stakeholders (government, pharmaceutical companies, patients) are resurfacing. For Erbitux, this is the second time the drug is up for RSA renewal. As all these drugs would need to cut prices, therefore whether the company may reach a consensus with the government and succeed in renewing its agreement remains a focus of attention. Of course, no drugs have failed to renew their RSAs yet, but as the price of the drugs would need to inevitably fall as re-evaluation progresses, every news renewal brings tension to its stakeholders. In Korea, RSA drugs are required to undergo evaluations for clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness every time their term expires, unlike general drugs that demonstrate their cost-effectiveness at the time of approval through pharmacoeconomic evaluations. The cost-effectiveness evaluations are inevitably affected by the price of its alternatives at the time of evaluations, and during the 5-year RSA term, the price of the alternative drugs are cut through various post-management mechanisms (reduction of original drug prices due to generic listings, volume-price linkage system, price cap discounts due to reimbursement expansions, etc). In addition, the revisions made in 2020 now allow latecomers to sign RSA agreements, therefore the price of the latecomers can now directly affect the cost-effectiveness of the first entrants. This has added to the already-long list of issues that had been constantly raised about RSA renewals in the industry. However, the entry of latecomer drugs into the RSA scheme has been a long-awaited wish from the industry’s perspective, and the government made the decision to expand RSA benefits after various discussions. Also, it is not unreasonable for price adjustments to be made for drugs that have alternatives with the same mechanism of action, even if their indications are not identical. An official from a multinational pharmaceutical company said, “All companies ahead of reevaluations have their own concerns. If the government alleviates the standards by resetting the reevaluation period or by simplifying the data required for submissions, it will be easier to reach an agreement,” he said. He added, “If the RSAs are not renewed and the drugs become non-reimbursed, the confusion will only be transferred to the field and the patients. It is now time to prepare the right mechanism to maintain the RSA system, the main scheme that is being used to list high-priced drugs.”
- Policy
- Brukinsa was approved using phase 2 data on MCL indications
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Mar 04, 2022 05:57am
- Brukinsa 80mg (Zanubrutinib), the first new drug in Korea by Chinese pharmaceutical company Beijing, has secured MCL indications only with therapeutic clinical trial data (phase 2). This is because there was an expert opinion that according to Article 7, No. 6 of the Regulations on Item Permission, Report, and Review of Medicines, it could replace therapeutic confirmation clinical trial data. According to the minutes of the Central Pharmaceutical Review Committee on January 21, released by the MFDS on the 3rd, an advisory review on the validity of the requirements for submitting approval data related to rare drugs for MCL treatment was conducted. At the meeting, it was concluded that "MCL, which has received more than one treatment before," among Brukinsa indications, would be replaced with therapeutic confirmation clinical data as therapeutic search clinical data. With alternative treatments approved in various countries, it is practically difficult to recruit patients who have failed the first phase of MCL treatment, a rare disease, with the annual number of patients around 100, and conduct phase 3. Brukinsa is a second-line treatment for MCL, and there is no phase 3 clinical trial currently underway, and phase 3 clinical trial is underway as a first-line treatment. There were no ongoing clinical trials in Korea. Members of the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council said, "There is little data on comparative clinical trials in the literature, and it is a disease that is difficult to conduct research due to a rare disease." They said, "It seems practically difficult to recruit patients who have failed the first phase of treatment and proceed with phase 3 clinical trials." There was an opinion that phase 2 was more effective than the previous treatment and showed a stable aspect in terms of side effects. Some said that it is necessary to evaluate side effects and monitor safety and effectiveness-related data based on MCL indications after using drugs according to the results of phase 3 clinical trials as a first-line treatment. Brukinsa obtained permission from the MFDS on the 24th. It was recognized for its efficacy and effectiveness ▲ in WM adult patients who had received more than one treatment before ▲ in MCL adult patients who have received more than one treatment before.
- Policy
- Janumet's salt change consigned drug have been approved for
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Mar 04, 2022 05:57am
- A large number of Janumet's salt change combination, which is commissioned and manufactured by Daewon Pharmaceutical, have been approved for items. The MFDS applied for a diabetes complex by Jin Yang, Young Poong, Withus, and Neo Bio Korea Pharm on the 2nd. 8 items of Sitaglipin HCl+Metformin and Colloidal Silicon Dioxide have been approved. This drug is an aid to diet and exercise therapy to improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes, and Daewon Pharmaceutical developed last year as a salt change to escape the original MSD Janumet (Sitagliptin HCl+Metformin) general for exclusive. Since Daewon Pharmaceutical obtained permission on December 30 last year, 25 pharmaceutical companies have obtained permission for 73 consigned products with the same ingredients. Janumet's material patent expires on September 2, 2023, and the composition patent expires on June 1, 2024. Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Chong Kun Dang obtained the same Sitagliptin+Metformin HCl as Janumet, and Kyung Dong, Korea Prime Pharm, Yuyu Pharma, Yongjin, SCD Pharm, Dasan, Jeil, and Samjin for generic. Competition in the diabetes complex market is expected to intensify next year as Daewon's consignment product is released.
- Company
- ↓↓Sales of smoking cessation txs by 75% in 4 yrs
- by Ji Yong Jun Mar 04, 2022 05:56am
- The market for Varenicline, a non-smoking supplement, has fallen to a quarter in four years. This is because the distribution of the original drug Pfizer Champix, which led the market, was suspended due to an impurity crisis in the second half of last year. According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical research institute, sales of Varenicline last year were 16.2 billion won, down 22.1% from the previous year. Compared to the sales of the Varenicline system of 65 billion won in 2017, it decreased by 75.1% in four years. (Data: IQVIA) Most of the sales of Varenicline products came from the original product Champix. However, as Champix's sales fell, the overall market size also fell. Champix's sales fell 65.6% from the previous year to 9.2 billion won last year. The reason for the sharp drop in sales of Champix last year is the impurity crisis. In June last year, Champix's worldwide distribution was suspended due to excessive detection of NNV, which is believed to be a carcinogen. Of the 9.2 billion won in sales posted by Champix last year, 93.4% posted in the first half. Champix's sales in the third and fourth quarters of last year were only 600 million won and 28,000 won, respectively. Champix was released on the market in 2007 with permission from the MFDS. Varenicline partially binds to nicotine receptors in the brain to relieve smoking needs and withdrawal symptoms. Compared to anti-smoking aids that absorb Nicotine into the body to control withdrawal symptoms and smoking needs, Champix gradually stood out with this mechanism. Sales of Champix increased sharply as the government's anti-smoking treatment support policy began in 2015. The smoking cessation treatment support policy is a policy that provides full support for drug prices to participants who complete all smoking cessation treatment programs for 12 weeks. Drugs such as Varenicline, Bupropion, and Nicotine supplements are fully supported. Champix's sales in 2015 amounted to 24.2 billion won, nearly quadrupling from the previous year. Since then, it has risen vertically to 48.8 billion won in 2016 and 65 billion won in 2017. However, since 2018, sales have declined due to a decrease in drug prices and a decrease in participants in smoking cessation treatment support projects. Champix's sales fell nearly half from 41.2 billion won in 2018 to 20.7 billion won in 2020. Sales of generic Jeil's Nico Chams are increasing as Champix is kicked out of the market due to controversy over impurities. Ten generics are currently on sale in the Varenicline market, but sales are not very large except for Nico Chams. Nico Chams is an item manufactured by Jeil. Nico Chams recorded 2.9 billion won in sales last year. Nico Chams appeared in the market in the third quarter of 2020 and sales were 40 million won until the second quarter of last year. Sales of Nico Chams have grown since the third quarter of last year. Nico Chams' sales rose sharply from 700 million won in the third quarter of last year to 2.2 billion won in the fourth quarter. Nico Chams replaced Champix because the amount of impurities detected in Varenicline drugs met the standards of the MFDS. In September last year, the MFDS allowed NNV to be released only if it was 185 ng/day or less. Initially, in Korea, CTC Bio and Jeil were in charge of manufacturing Varenicline product of seven domestic pharmaceutical companies and 24 domestic pharmaceutical companies, respectively. Among them, only the Varenicline produced by Jeil had NNV detection of 16.70 to 43.28 ng/day, which was lower than the MFDS' standard, enabling distribution. CTC Bio's manufacturing items exceeded the shipping availability standard. Jeil is planning to increase Nico Chams' prescription. Nico Chams is prescribed in 9,000 out of 15,000 hospitals and clinics.
- Company
- Kyowa Kirin·Boryung to copromote sale of 2 neutropenia txs
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Mar 04, 2022 05:55am
- Kyowa Kirin Boryung Pharmaceutical and Kyowa Kirin Korea will be jointly selling 2 types of neutropenia treatments in Korea. On the 2nd, Kyowa Kirin Korea and Boryung Pharmaceutical announced that the companies signed a co-promotion agreement to jointly sell the neutropenia treatments ‘Grasin (filgrastim)’ and ‘Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)’ in Korea. Neutropenia treatments prevent cancer patients from developing the side effect of a weakened immune system due to decreased neutrophil levels when they receive anticancer therapies. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fight infections from bacteria, etc. Grasin and Neulasta are each 1st and 2nd generation neutropenia treatments. The two drugs have differences in half-life and duration of action. Both drugs are grossing ₩20 billion annually in Korea. Kyowa Kirin Korea said, “We plan to continue expanding the market share of Grasin and Neulasta in Korea through synergy with Boryung Pharmaceutical’s diverse solid cancer portfolio while strengthening our focus in field of blood cancer.” From Boryung Pharmaceutical’s perspective, the company expects to expand its portfolio by selling the leading adjuvant therapies for cancer with Kyowa Kirin Korea. Boryung Pharmaceutical has occupied the lead in Korea’s anticancer drug market based on its specialized anticancer drug team and their evidence-based academic sales marketing stategy. Also, the company has experience selling GC Pharma’s neutropenia treatment ‘Neulapeg’ from 2018 to last year. Young-Seok Kim, Head of Boryung Pharmaceutical's Oncology Division said, “We are pleased to be able to provide the leading neutropenia treatments Grasin and Neulasta to more patients and HCPs in Korea. Based on the competitivity and know-how we accumulated in the field of oncology, we plan to continue expanding the products’ share in the market.” Sang-Hun Lee, President of Kyowa Kirin Korea, said, “We are pleased to be able to work with Boryung Pharmaceutical, which has shown rapid growth in the anticancer drug business. By focusing on each of our key areas, our superior products, and Boryung’s strong sales capabilities, we look forward to being able to provide our excellent products and services to more patients in a wider array of fields.”
- Company
- Saxenda and Qsymia tops the growing obesity market
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Mar 03, 2022 06:01am
- The obesity treatment market has grown to break its own record for 3 consecutive years. The introduction of a new type of obesity treatment such as ‘Saxenda’ and ‘Qsymia’ had also led to market expansion.’ The two drugs have dominated the share of existing products and have occupied about half of the total market. According to market research institution IQVIA on the 3rd, the obesity treatment market size recorded ₩143.6 billion last year, a 0.4% increase from the previous year. The obesity treatment market has been breaking new records every year since 2019. Total sales in 2019 amounted to ₩134.1 billion won, up 38.6% from the previous year, and exceeded 100 billion won for the first time in a decade since 2009 immediately before sibutramine was withdrawn from the market. In 2020, the market showed YoY growth of 6.6%. The obesity treatment market showed slower growth this year compared to 2019 and 2020 but still succeeded in breaking the 2020’s largest-ever market record again to reach a new high. Compared to 2018, the market grew 48.4% in three years. The recent additions, Saxenda and Qsymia, had led the overall market expansions. Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda sold the most among all obesity treatments, recording ₩36.2 billion in sales. Although this was a 1.7% decrease from the previous year, the drug succeeded in holding its lead for 3 consecutive years since 2019. Saxenda is the world’s first a GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide 1) analogue approved to treat obesity. It contains the same ingredients as the company’s 'Victorza (liraglutide)’ that is used to treat diabetes but has a different dosage and administration. The drug enjoyed explosive popularity as it acts with the same mechanism of action as the human body's GLP-1 and suppresses the patient’s appetite to induce weight loss, forming the perception that it is relatively safe. In only one year since its release, the drug topped the market with ₩42.6 billion in sales in 2019. In terms of quarterly sales, the drug rose the lead for the first time with ₩5.6 billion in Q4 2018, then maintained its lead for 13 consecutive quarters ever since. However, its growth rate has slowed down somewhat. Saxenda’s average quarterly sales exceeded ₩10 billion in 2019, but fell to ₩9.1 billion last year. This is analyzed to be due to Qsymia’s introduction to the market. Qsymia’s sales rose 16.6% YoY to record ₩26.2 billion last year. Qsymia is a combination drug that contains ‘phentermine’ and ‘topiramate’ that Alvogen Korea gained exclusive marketing rights for in Korea from the US company Vivus. Alvogen Korea signed a copromotion agreement with Chong Kun Dang at the end of 2019 and started to sell the drug in earnest in Korea. Earning ₩4.3 billion in sales in Q1 2019, Qsymia rose to rank No.2 in sales immediately after its release. From Q2 2020, it recorded sales of ₩5-6 billion, breaking Saxenda's monopoly in the market and establishing a two-way race between the two drugs. Analysts believe that Qsymia's rapid penetration into the market was possible due to the synergistic effect of the sales network owned by Alvogen Korea and Chong Kun Dang in the obesity treatment market from selling ‘Furing’ and ‘Furimin.’ Also, the fact that it contains relatively antipsychotics and may be prescribed long-term although it is an oral formulation acted as a success factor. Last year, Saxenda and Qsymia’s share of the market reached 43.5%. Their share has continued to increase from the 31.8% in 2019 and 41.5% in 2020. Although 100 types of obesity treatments in the market in Korea, the performance of all other obesity treatments excluding Saxenda and Qsymia were relatively poor. Daewoong Pharmaceutical's ‘Dietamine’ ranked third with sales of ₩8.3 billion last year, which was a 9.8% YoY drop from the previous year. Sales of Huons' ‘Hutermin’ also fell 12.7% YoY to record ₩5.3 billion last year.
