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- 2026-04-14 11:44:33
- Company
- Korean novel drug Leclaza may become cheaper than Tagrisso
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 10, 2021 05:55am
- The daily drug cost of Korea's novel anticancer drug 'Leclaza' is expected to be set at a level that is around ₩10,000 cheaper than ‘Tagrisso.’ Dailypharm found that the price of Yuhan Corp.’s 3rd generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Leclaza (lazertinib) was set at ₩69,000 per each 80mg tablet after drug pricing negotiations with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) on the 7th. If a patient takes the daily recommended dose of 240mg every day, the total cost will be around ₩207,000 per day. The recommended daily dose of Tagrisso (osimertinib) is 80mg, and each 80mg tablet costs ₩217,782. Both prices are based on the list price. The relatively generous price that was set for Leclaza, despite it being a latecomer drug, was deemed possible due to the drug being a domestic novel drug, and in consideration of its potential indication expansions in the future. Accordingly, if Leclaza passes the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Health Insurance Policy Deliberative Committee this month, the drug will be available with reimbursement from July. This may start a full-scale competition in the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between Leclaza and AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso. Leclaza's reimbursement is being processed at an unprecedented pace. After receiving marketing authorization in Korea on January 18th of this year, in one month the drug passed the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service’s Cancer Disease Deliberation Committee, then passed HIRA's Pharmaceutical Benefits Assessment Committee (PBAC) review in April. Also, MOHW had ordered a negotiation period a week earlier for Leclaza compared to other drugs that passed the PBAC to further speed up the listing process. If the drug is listed in July, the whole listing process from approval to listing would have taken less than 6 months in total. Leclaza was first approved for the second-line treatment of lung cancer, specifically, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with positive EGFR T790M mutation who have been previously treated with an EGFR-TKI. The approval was based on the clinical trial results of its Phase II clinical trial (therapeutic exploratory trial) that was conducted in Korea, under the condition that the company conducts and submits Phase III trial (therapeutic confirmatory study) data after the market release. Currently, first-generation EGFR TKIs AstraZeneca's Iressa (gefitinib) and Roche's 'Tarceva (erlotinib)'; second-generation EGFR TKIs 'Geotrif (afatinib)' and 'Vizimpro (dacomitinib)'; and third-generation EGFR TKIs Leclaza and Tagrisso(osimertinib) are being prescribed in Korea.
- Company
- Former GSK GM Yoo-Seok Hong to head D&D Pharmatech
- by An, Kyung-Jin Jun 10, 2021 05:55am
- Yoo-Seok Hong, New CEO of D&D Pharmatech Yoo-Seok Hong, former General Manager of GSK Korea will be joining the leadership of the biotech company, D&D Pharmatech. On the 9th, D&D Pharmatech had announced that the company has appointed Yoo-Seok Hong as its new CEO. Hong is a seasoned expert with extensive experience in marketing and business management at multinational pharmaceutical companies. Hong was as Marketing Director for Eli Lilly's osteoporosis treatment and Senior Director of Strategy in the Emerging Market Business Unit of Eli Lilly and Company, after which he served as General Manager at various Korean subsidiaries of multinational pharmaceutical companies including Lilly Korea, Teva-Handok, and GSK Korea. In February 2018., Hong was appointed General Manager of Pharmaceutical in GSK Canada, then as the Vice President of the GSK headquarters in the U.S., and was in charge of commercializing the company’s innovative liver treatment from September 2020. As a leader, Hong is considered to have played a significant role in elevating the status of Korean managers in the international market. D&D Pharmatech was established in 2014 by Professor Seulki Lee of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. It has headquarters in Korea (Pangyo) and the U.S. (Gaithersburg, MD), and has five U.S. subsidiaries focusing on specific therapeutic areas, where it conducts global clinical research and development. 10 global clinical projects using new drug candidates that were developed by the company’s research team in Korea and abroad for neurodegenerative diseases, fibrotic diseases, and metabolic diseases are being tested at sites in the U.S. and Europe. The company’s treatment in development for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently in a large-scale Phase II trial. Recently, the company has expanded its business to biomarkers that can diagnose neurodegenerative patients and big data to analyze its cause. D&D Pharmatech plans to present the proposal to appoint Hong Yoo-Seok as an inside director at the general shareholders' meeting on the 18th, and appoint Hong as CEO at the Board of Directors meeting. Through the appointment, the company will be operated under an independent representative system with Dr. Seulki Lee, the founder, and CEO overseeing the entire R&D business, and CEO Yoo-Seok Hong in charge of the company's business development, management, and operation. The company anticipates that Hong will speed up the global technology export and commercialization of ongoing clinical projects. On his appointment, Hong said, “I have high expectations for D&D Pharmatech’s core pipeline and believe in its market potential and possibility of success. As CEO, I aspire to create a successful Korean global biotech model in which its three components - continuous discovery of new candidate substances, successful clinical development, and global commercialization – can operate in harmony.”
- Company
- Once again, the fear of impurities
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jun 10, 2021 05:55am
- Fear of impurities is spreading again in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. There is a high risk that the aftermath of large-scale withdrawal of impurities from Canada will also damage Korea. Pharmaceutical companies are nervous in that it is a new type of impurity that is different from the one that has built a verification system over the past three years. ◆Start investigating impurities of new types from Canada and panic because there is no test method According to the industry on the 7th, pharmaceutical companies are looking at the details of impurities of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) such as Irbesartan, Losartan, and Valsartan. On the 4th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety ordered the three ingredients to submit the results of the "Azido" impurity evaluation and test test by the 14th, and began to seek countermeasures. Health Canada announced on the 31st of last month that Azido was detected in Irbesartan, Losartan and Valsartan from nine pharmaceutical companies, including Teva and Sandoz, and that voluntary recovery is underway. They are large enough to reach a total of 227 lot numbers. Irbesartan had 124 lot numbers, Losartan with 97 and Valsartan with 6 lot numbers. Health Canada announced on the 31st of last month that Azido was detected in three ingredients of nine pharmaceutical companies: Irbesartan, Losartan, and Valsartan, and voluntary recovery is underway. Pharmaceutical companies are very nervous in that impurities detected in Canada are new types that have not been previously found. An official from a pharmaceutical company said, "We asked the supplier for data on Azido, but we are not sure if there is any." Azido is a type of carcinogenic substance in the azide family. There is no known specific risk of cancer in the human body, although it may increase the risk of cancer. Nitrosamines such as "NDMA" and "NDEA" have been detected in Korea since 2018, but no recovery measures have been taken due to the detection of azide-based impurities. In raw materials such as Irbesartan, Losartan, and Valsartan, Azido is a harmful substance without standardization. The risk of Azido detection was not recognized in advance, and there are currently no Azido impurities test methods. The development is similar to that of the detection of NDMA in Valsartan three years ago. NDMA, a carcinogenic substance detected in the Valsartan issue, is a harmful substance that does not have a standard. Neither government nor pharmaceutical companies were able to recognize the dangers of detecting NDMA from raw materials for Valsartan. The MFDS drew up a test method to detect NDMA in the raw materials of Valsartan, and prepared a new standard. The fact that the cause of Azido is unknown also amplifies anxiety. The MFDS looked at the manufacturing environment in which NDMA can be produced after the impurity Valsartan wave erupted. NDMA detected in Valsartan-based drugs was created by chemical reactions during the manufacturing process. In the process of manufacturing Valsartan, a major intermediary, "Biphenyltrazol", was manufactured, and NDMA was created in the process of synthesizing Biphenyltrazol and rapidly cooling it using nitric acid after tetrazol formation. As with the initial discovery of NDMA, the risk of Azido is still unknown. "People who take daily medicines containing Azido below the acceptable level for 70 years are not expected to increase their risk of cancer," Health Canada said. Until recently, pharmaceutical companies have completed inspections of nitrosamine impurities such as NDMA and NDEA. In November 2019, the MFDS ordered pharmaceutical companies to submit a report on the possibility of nitrosamine-based impurities in all raw materials and finished drugs, and the data submission was completed in a year and a half. The MFDS must submit data on impurities in all medicines to allow lot release without testing for nitrosamines impurities. However, if a large-scale suspension of sales due to the detection of excess impurities of a new type rather than nitrosamines, confusion over impurities is expected to spread throughout the industry. An official from the MFDS said, "Recovery of drugs including Azido is currently underway in Canada alone.""In Canada, we expect to be able to collect related data through raw material drug clients as we have tested the impurities. We are in the process of collecting information."
- Policy
- 5 companies' developing vaccines have completed Phase I
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Jun 10, 2021 05:55am
- Minister Kwon Deok-cheol is briefing on the report at a special quarantine inspection meetingThe development products of five companies that are developing domestic COVID-19 vaccines have all been found to have completed phase 1 clinical trial and entered the next stage Depending on the product, some vaccines are aimed at entering phase 3 clinical trials as early as next month (July). The MOHW reported the status of vaccine development in Korea and future plans at the 3rd Special Quarantine Inspection Meeting on COVID-19 this afternoon (7th). Since May, the government has jointly operated the Pan-Government COVID-19 Vaccine Treatment Clinical Trial Support TF" to share the progress of each company and continue to check the preparation status of each department." First of all, it plans to provide all-out support for the rapid development of domestic vaccines. The government plans to introduce IRB to minimize unnecessary administrative waste and expedite clinical trials in line with the domestic vaccine phase 3 clinical plan. It will secure additional R&D budgets for Phase III clinical support to distribute risks and reduce corporate costs due to Phase III clinical progress, and actively purchase domestic vaccines in advance if development results are visible to some extent. Considering that most domestic development companies are planning to promote phase 3 clinical trials in controlled clinical trial, the government plans to make every effort to secure standard substances, establish standard test methods (SOPs) and secure vaccines so that controlled clinical trial can be carried out smoothly. Controlled clinical trials refer to the validation of a development vaccine by identifying a similar level of immunogenicity (such as antibodies) to a previously licensed vaccine. Looking at foreign cases, Valneva, France, is pursuing Phase III clinical trials with AstraZeneca vaccine and controlled clinical trials for the inactivated vaccine as of April 21. If clinical trials are completed, or if development is suspended or failed, vaccinations will be given first. At the briefing, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "The government will 'support' until the development of domestic vaccines is completed, and we will continue to make pan-government efforts to ensure rapid performance."
- Company
- Family testing for rare genetic diseases are needed
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 09, 2021 06:08am
- As the number of rare genetic diseases that can be managed increases, the importance of early diagnosis through family tests is emerging. According to the KDCA's "2019 Statistical Yearbook of Rare Disease Patients," the number of new rare diseases in 2019 stood at 55,499 with about one per 1,000 population. The number of patients suffering from each rare disease is rare, but the total population is indescribably large. Many neighbors around us are already living with rare diseases. However, the development of the medical and pharmaceutical industries has enabled prediction and management of certain genetic diseases. For example, Fabry disease, one of the most common resource accumulation diseases, is a genetic disease passed down from parent generation to child generation. The cause of Fabry disease is that women with genetic variation have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children regardless of gender, and men are 100% inherited from their daughters and not from their sons. Therefore, patients with Fabry disease may not be their fault, but sometimes live under the social stigma and negative perception of "genetic disease" as the patients. Genetic possibility of Fabry disease However, since Fabry disease is a treatable, it is most important to inform family members as soon as one of the family members is diagnosed and start treatment before the disease progresses to severe conditions. This can prevent worsening symptoms and irreversible organ damage, and especially the younger generation can relieve vague anxiety about childbirth by making family plans in advance. In fact, patients with Fabry disease often postpone or avoid the second-generation plan for fear that their children will inherit the disease. Fabry disease is a legally designated "preconception genetic diagnosis" that allows patients with Fabry disease to conceive a healthy fetus. Preimplantation diagnosis is a method of transplanting embryos that do not have the gene of the disease into the womb through pre-pregnancy genetic testing to help pregnant a child without genetic disease. Fabry disease patients often hesitate or give up pregnancy itself," said Kwon Young-joo, a professor of kidney medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital. Professor Kwon said, "But with institutional help, we can give birth to healthy children without worrying about heredity." If Fabry disease has been diagnosed after pregnancy, it is recommended that a newborn screening test is performed to determine whether a child is born with Fabry disease or not for proper treatment and prognosis. This is because if a child is diagnosed with Fabry disease, he or she will visit the hospital periodically as he or she grows up to monitor the progress of the disease, and if necessary, the prognosis may be good if treatment begins early in childhood. There is also an unmet demand. Genetic diagnosis before implantation is non-reimbursed, and not yet been covered by health insurance. Consequently, there may be an economic burden on the cost. "Genetic diagnosis before implantation is not covered by health insurance yet," said Professor Kwon Young-joo. Diagnosis is also recommended for the healthy life of children. "As much effort is being made by health authorities and all walks of life to overcome the low birthrate problem, consideration and review are needed in these careful areas."
- Company
- Merz’s OTC drug Pantogar released as health functional food
- by Nho, Byung Chul Jun 09, 2021 06:08am
- The hair loss OTC drug Pantoga received attention after its unexpected release as a health functional food recently, after removing some of its ingredients. Pantogar was approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2002, and the original developer, Merz in Germany, had globally launched Pantogar in 1976. The newly launched Pantovigar Vegan has not been officially released in Korea but is being sold in pharmacies in Germany. According to industry sources, the import of Pantogar was discontinued for the reason of change in manufactories last year, and the drug currently out of stock in all online pharmaceutical shops including Onlinepharm and theSHOP. However, if the import was discontinued simply due to the change of manufactories as Merz Korea explained, the health functional food Pantovigar that was launched recently would generally be manufactured in line with the existing OTC drug Pantogar. Also, in terms of demonstrating its efficacy, it is not easily understood why the company decided to sell it as a health functional food instead of an OTC, which is better for verifying the drug’s efficacy. The OTC Pantogar is composed of L-cystine 20 mg, medicinal yeast 100 mg., Keratin 20 mg, Thiamine nitrate 60mg, Para-aminobenzoic acid 20 mg, and Calcium D-Pantothenate 60 mg, etc. On the other hand, the new Pantovigar Vegan contains cystine, Pantothenate, Thiamine Nitrate, D-Biotin, Iron, Zinc, Rice Germ Protein, Yeast power, etc. One difference to note is that the Pantovigar vegan does not contain keratin, an animal protein. Under these circumstances, Merz's German headquarters had completely split the aesthetic business and over-the-counter drug business of Merz Korea in July last year. As a result, Merz Korea’s business domain now only covers medical aesthetics products such as its botulinum toxin, Xeomin, etc. The company’s representative OTC Pantogar is now being sold and marketed by HUH Pharma, its scar treatment Contractubex by C&C Healthcare, and its API of the liver during Hepamerz by Hanwha Pharma in Korea. According to IQVIA, Pantogar sold 1.3 billion and 0.6 billion won in 2019 and 2020. Regarding Pantogar, Merz Korea said, “The pharmaceutical business unit and aesthetics business unit of Merz Korea was separated into two parts in the middle of last year. The pharmaceutical business is now controlled directly by our headquarters in Germany, so we cannot provide exact information on whether or when Pantogar will be launched in Korea.”
- Company
- MNCs bid for ‘themed’ victory with innovation and legacy
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 09, 2021 06:07am
- Whichever the cause, the decision of the Big Pharmas to ‘focus on their strengths’ is more than just a pretext for reorganizing their businesses. Setting a clear ‘theme’ can have a positive effect on the image of a company. Also, dividing its business does not mean a loss of drive. However, such divisions will bring one company to lose its cash cow, and the other to lose its new product line. In this sense, the divisions will intensify companies’ competition for survival and movement to specialize their domain. ◆Reorganizing by theme for a reason=The theme of a company's pipeline leads to consistency of its message. For example, Pfizer’s Upjohn was a spin-off of its off-patent drug business, but its merger with Mylan added biosimilars, generics, and over-the-counter drugs to its pipeline. Organon, which pursues leadership in women’s health, has established its pipeline in the field of cardiovascular, urinary, respiratory, dermatology, and biosimilars. In other words, the spin-offs can let one company can purse innovation, while the other succeeds legacy brands. The brand power held by legacy product lines is also a competitive edge that cannot be ignored. In this sense, the restructuring, which enabled Pfizer and MSD to focus on developing and launching innovative new anticancer and rare disease drugs while their spinoffs - Viatris and Organon - became specialty pharmaceutical companies that focus on chronic disease or women’s health, was a convincing move from the stockholder’s viewpoint. However, there is a loophole in the reasoning of these spin-offs and sales. Ironically that Pfizer’s biosimilar, as well as MSD’s blockbuster drugs such as the diabetic drug ‘Januvia,’ Takeda’s OTC drug ‘Actinum’ remains in the original company. ◆Specificity of the Korean market= Also, the Korean subsidiaries of the multinational pharmaceutical companies may face a different situation due to the inherent characteristic of the Korean market. In Korea, original drugs tend to sell strong regardless of their patent status. This may partially be due to the generic drug pricing policies in Korea, but many Korean subsidiaries of multinational pharmaceutical companies have been enjoying strong sales even after patent expiry. In fact, Viatris Korea accounts for more than half of Pfizer Korea's sales. Just last year, Viatris's lead statin product ‘Lipitor,’ recorded 185.5 billion won in prescription sales. Also, even without the ‘Januvia’ family, Organon Korea’s originals ‘Atozet,’ ‘Cozaar,’ ‘Singular’ had in total recorded around 150 billion won’s worth in sales last year. Launching combination drugs that succeed the originality of originators is therefore a strategy that companies can choose to take in the Korean market. Viatris had recently released ‘Lipitor Plus,’ an atorvastatin and ezetimibe combination drug. Viatris aims to target the Korean market with Lipitor’s brand power and the fact that they use the original API. Under the stepped pricing system that was newly applied, Lipitor Plus’s price was set lower than Atozet. The results remain to be seen, however, Korea is an adequate market for testing new strategies based on manufacturing pharmacy such as by improving the convenience of chronic disease drugs, etc. On the other hand, the Korean subsidiaries that have let go of their cash cows may need to brace for sluggish sales growth depending on their reimbursement situation, as due to the nature of Korea’s national health insurance system, new drugs are not easily prescribed without reimbursement in Korea. Pfizer is currently working to list its ‘Vyndamax,’ and two other follow-on drugs that have been listed are facing RSA re-evaluations soon. MSD recently failed to expand its 'Keytruda' reimbursement to first-line lung cancer, which was key to expanding the scope of prescription for the drug. These are risks that cannot be ignored from the Korean subsidiary’s perspective. An official from a multinational pharmaceutical company said, “The separation of roles seems to be happening between multinational pharmaceutical companies as well. In the future, the companies will be divided into those that reduce their sales division while focusing on reimbursing high-price drugs, and those that increase collaboration with domestic companies and implement various sales strategies.”
- Company
- Patent dispute over Pelubi SR is not over
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jun 09, 2021 06:07am
- Pelubi SRThe patent dispute of Daewon's anti-inflammatory drug Pelubi SR continues. Youngjin, Huons, and Chong Kun Dang won patent dispute of Pelubi. Among them, Youngjin has received generic for exclusivity alone. According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 7th, at least three companies are considering patent challenges for Pelubi SR: Mothers Huons, and Chong Kun Dang. Although they have not filed a formal patent judgment yet, it is known that they have started developing their own generics. The industry expects the Pelubi SR patent dispute to be fiercer than the previous case of Pelubi. This is because Pelubi SR's Rx performance is higher than that of Pelubi. According to UBIST, a pharmaceutical market research firm, Rx performance of Pelubi SR last year was ₩30.1 billion. Among them, Pelubi SR's sales account for 60-70%. Pelubi & Pelubi SR are registered with composition Patent. The patent for Pelubi SR expires in October 2033. Huons and Mothers are officially in the development of generics for Pelubi SR . Biological equivalence tests were approved in May and July last year respectively. Recently, Chong Kun-dang is said to have started developing its own generic. The pharmaceutical industry understands that these companies' patent challenge for Pelubi SR is imminent. In addition to the three companies, attention is also being paid to whether companies that have challenged existing Pelubi patents such as Youngjin will try again. If one of them files a patent trial, the remaining companies' patent challenges are expected to follow within 14 days. Pelubi and Pelubi SR are said to be difficult to develop due to the nature of the preparation. "It is expected that it will be more difficult to prove biological equivalence than to win a patent dispute," a pharmaceutical industry said. "We understand that three companies voluntarily withdrew their patents in the previous patent dispute for Pelubi because they also failed to develop generics." In the case of Pelubi, which expire in November 2028, Youngjinl, Huons, and Chong Kundang won the first trial. Mothers, Hutecs, and Nexpharm, which challenged patents with them, voluntarily withdrew their judgment on patents. The generic for exclusivity of generic for Pelubi was acquired exclusively by Youngjin. Youngjin received a license for Peluvi's generic Pelps late last month. The MFDS granted Pelps generic for exclusivity on the same day. Huons was also granted Hubirofen, generic for Pelubi on the same day, but generic for exclusivty was not given. It is said that this is because the MFDS ordered supplementation of data. It is known that Chong Kun Dang did not apply for permission for generic for Peluvi.
- Policy
- 200 million tablets of Acetaminophen are available
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Jun 09, 2021 06:07am
- The government has stressed that Acetaminophen is well stocked before more people are vaccinated. Pre-dosing before inoculation does not fit medical information and does not require purchasing only certain brands (ex:Tylenol). COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Counters Headquaters (CDSCHQ) told in a regular briefing this afternoon that they discussed plans to supply Acetaminophen. Son Young-rae, head of CDSCHQ's social strategy team, said, "People who recently booked a COVID-19 vaccine are looking for Acetaminophen fever painkillers." He spoke about the MFDS' current supply and demand of Acetaminophen and a smooth supply plan. "The pharmaceutical company currently has about 200 million tablets of Acetaminophen in stock. Even if 10 tablets are taken per people, 20 million people can use it, and considering 8 million people scheduled to be inoculated in June, it is enough. "In particular, there is no reason to insist on certain products because about 70 generics are currently distributed in Korea." Moon Eun-hee, head of the Drug Policy Division , also explained that the supply is sufficient even if unproduced items are excluded from the 70 licensed generics. "Of 70 Acetaminophen products approved by the MFDS, there are also products that are not produced. However, since pharmaceutical companies have about 200 million stocks so far, it is enough for those who will be inoculated in June. Moon then said, "We will consider and promote support measures with pharmaceutical companies to expand production so that more inventory can be produced in consideration of the expansion of vaccinations."
- Product
- Ask for Acetaminophen, instead of Tylenol
- by Kang, Shin-Kook Jun 08, 2021 09:12pm
- "If fever or muscle pain occurs after vaccination, ask for Acetaminophen to the pharmacy." As the Tylenol shortage continues, the movement to change public perception begins. Rep. Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea visited the Korean Pharmaceutical Association Hall on the morning of the 4th and announced that he would start an SNS challenge with Chairman Kim Dae-up. Chairman Kim Dae-up & Seo Young-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who started SNS challenge Representative Seo said, "The vaccination target is 13 million by the end of this month, and the quarantine authorities' plan is to start vaccinations by July." "The demand for painkillers is expected to surge due to the expansion of vaccinations, and if the stock is low, people will have to visit many pharmacies to buy Tylenol," he said. He said, "With this phenomenon of Tylenol shortage, we need to draw the right public perception of the same active ingredient. There are about 70 generics of the same active ingredient, and I hope it will serve as an opportunity to discuss why there was a phenomenon in which only certain brands, Tylenol, were favored and solutions," he explained the background of the SNS challenge. "The domestic pharmaceutical market is very strange," said Chairman Kim Dae-up. "There are many generics that cannot even be compared to foreign countries, and there are too many items of the same active ingredient as the consignment market." Chairman Kim said, "Tylenol was sold out as the KDCA promoted to take Tylenol after vaccination." "Some pharmacies have to say that Tylenol is out of stock 100 times," he said, criticizing the health authorities' initial response. Chairman Kim said, "The KDCA should be responsible for distributing unofficial note prescriptions and asking vaccination centers to take Tylenol." "I am happy and grateful that Rep. Seo Young-seok joined the movement to change public awareness under such circumstances," he said. He then pointed to Yoon Sun-hee, chairman of the Bucheon Pharmaceutical Association, and Nam In-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, after Suh, who started the first SNS challenge. Chairman Kim named Han Dong-joo, head of the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association, and Cho Sang-il, head of the Incheon Pharmaceutical Association, as SNS challenge runners.
