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- 2026-04-14 13:27:03
- Company
- Keytruda leads domestic market sales … Perjeta·Prolia also
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun May 25, 2021 06:03am
- The cancer immunotherapy ‘Keytruda’ firmly held its lead in the domestic pharmaceutical market. This is the 5th consecutive quarter from the first quarter of last year that the drug has recorded top sales among all pharmaceuticals in Korea. Also, the new biopharmaceuticals introduced by multinational pharmaceutical companies like ‘Perjeta,’ and ‘Prolia’ showed rapid growth. Among locally developed new drugs, K-cab showed the most rapid growth. According to the pharmaceutical research firm IQVIA on the 23rd, MDS’s Keytruda recorded the highest sales of 44.1 billion won in the first quarter this year. This is a 27.0% year-on-year increase from the same quarter of the previous year, and comfortably exceeded sales of 'Lipitor,’ which took second place. Since taking the lead in the first quarter last year with 34.7 billion won in sales, Keytruda has held its top place for 5 consecutive quarters. Keytruda is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that was released in Korea in 2015. The drug inhibits the ‘PD-1’ protein expressed at the cell surface of activated T cells. It has boasted overwhelming performance in over 30 types of cancer starting from melanoma to lung cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, etc. Immediately after its release, Keytruda’s quarterly sales remained around 3 billion won. However, its sales rose rapidly after the health authorities granted its reimbursement for second-line NSCLC from August 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, Keytruda’s sales exceeded 10 billion and exceeded 30 billion in the second quarter of 2019. In the first quarter of last year, Keytruda caught up with Lipitor, which had kept the lead since the fourth quarter of 2015 in sales, and rose to the top. Since then, Keytruda has maintained its strong growth, increasing the sales gap to 9 billion won last quarter. Among the top ranks, Perjeta, Prolia, and K-cab showed marked growth. Sales of Roche’s Perjeta rose 29.6% YoY in the first quarter of this year to record 21.4 billion Korean won and gained its place in the top 10. Perjeta indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel in patients with HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer, who have not received previous anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for their disease. Perjeta was approved reimbursement as first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer who have not received previous anti-HER2 therapy in 2017. In May 2019, the drug was granted selective reimbursement, and its sales surged as the Perjeta and trastuzumab combination became the established standard of care in the neoadjuvant treatment environment. Sales of Amgen’s Prolia increased 38.1% YoY to record 19.9 billion won in the first quarter of this year. Prolia is a biologic therapy that was released in Korea in November 2016 for treating osteoporosis by targeting RANKL, an essential protein for the formation, function, survival of osteoclasts that destroys bone. Prolia’s sales started growing since 2017 after it received reimbursement as second-line treatment. After the reimbursement was extended to cover first-line treatment since April 2019, Prolia’s sales increased exponentially. Its effort to strengthen its sales power through a partnership with Chong Kun Dang was also cited as a factor for Prolia’s sales growth. HK Inno.N’s new anti-ulcer drug K-cab showed strong growth amidst the chart full of drugs from multinational pharmaceutical companies. K-cab recorded 19.7 billion won in sales, a 56.7% YoY increase from the first quarter last year, and was the only locally developed drug to land in the top 10 sales. ‘K-cab (tegoprazan)’ is an anti-ulcer potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) that was released in March 2019 by HK Inno.N (previously known as CJ Healthcare). Its new mechanism of action competitively binds the proton pump, the final common pathway for acid secretion in gastric parietal cells, with potassium ions to inhibit acid secretion. After first receiving approval for as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) therapy, K-cab’s prescription surged with the indication expansion to the treatment of stomach ulcers. K-cab has recorded the most amount of sales among all drugs developed in Korea.
- Company
- Samsung Biologics, commissioned to produce Moderna vaccine
- by Kim, Jin-Gu May 25, 2021 06:03am
- Samsung BioLogics signed a contract with Moderna on the 22nd (local time) to commission the production of COVID-19 vaccines. After producing undiluted corona vaccine abroad, Samsung BioLogics will charge and pack it in Korea. Samsung BioLogics CEO John Lim and CEO Stéphane Bancel Moderna attended the "Korea-U.S. Vaccine Company Cooperation Event" held in Washington, D.C. on the same day and signed the same day. Samsung BioLogics plans to start aseptic charging, labeling, and packaging of hundreds of millions of vaccines to markets outside the U.S. starting in the third quarter. "The Moderna vaccine is the most important vaccine for people around the world fighting COVID-19," said John Lim, CEO of Samsung BioLogics. "We have set a quick production schedule for commercial procurement early in the second half of this year in response to global demand for vaccines." "We expect this contract to help us continue to expand our production capacity outside of the United States," said Juan Andres, chief technology officer (CTO). This is the fourth contract by a foreign pharmaceutical company to be commissioned to produce in Korea by COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier, AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Sputnik V vaccine of Russia signed a consignment production contract with a domestic company. Among them, AstraZeneca vaccine is currently being supplied to South Korea. At the event, there were three MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) in addition to a modern contract with Samsung BioLogics. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will cooperate with Moderna's investment support and business activities in Korea, while Moderna will make efforts to invest in and recruit mRNA vaccine production facilities. Moderna also signed an MOU with the Korea National Institute of Health to develop an mRNA vaccine. In addition, Novavax, SK Bioscience, and the MOHW signed MOU on research and development including COVID-19 vaccine. A total of four contracts and MOUs, including those of Samsung BioLogics, are interpreted as the outcome of the South Korea-U.S. summit on the previous day. President Moon Jae-in and President Joe Biden is epidemic to empower a coordinated response by 21, a joint statement has promised to 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and build a global partnership'.
- Policy
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is finally licensed
- by Lee, Tak-Sun May 25, 2021 06:03am
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has obtained a final item license in Korea. The MFDS announced on the 21st that GC Pharma has decided to permit imported items on the condition that it submits a final report on clinical trials for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, which it applied for permission for imported items on April 12. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is an mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna in the United States that injects the COVID-19 antigen gene in the form of mRNA to synthesize antigen proteins in the body and neutralizes and removes viruses when COVID-19 invades the body. The vaccine prevents COVID-19 at 18 years of age or older, after thawing, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine 0.5 mL is additionally inoculated four weeks after each inoculation, and the storage conditions are 7 months at freezing (25 to 15℃) and 1 month at refrigeration (2 to 8℃). It can also be stored at room temperature (8-25°C) for 12 hours before opening It is the fourth licensed COVID-19 vaccine in the country. It is the second licensed mRNA vaccine in Korea, receiving CMA or Emergency Use Authorization from 39 countries including Europe (EMA) and the United States and the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of three clinical trials conducted in the U.S. (Phase 1, Phase 2a, Phase 3) were submitted for the MFDS' clinical trial, and safety and effectiveness were evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials conducted in the U.S. At the "Final Inspection Committee" meeting held at 10 a.m. on the same day, the members reviewed the MFDS' review results and the two previous consultations, and decided to grant the item on condition of submitting the final clinical trial report. The final inspection committee decided to reflect the caution that although the safety of the vaccine is generally good, the number of predicted cases of inoculation tends to increase after the second dose, such as more pain, fatigue and chills. The overall safety measures are appropriate, and the "risk management plan" decided to continue to monitor the safety of the nervous system, such as peripheral neuropathy and dehydration diseases, and to continuously collect and evaluate abnormal cases arising from clinical trials and use after permission. The MFDS explained that it also approved additional imported items produced in Italy on the same day, with the same vaccine as COVID-19 Vacine AstraZeneca, which was licensed for domestic manufacturing on February 10. "We quickly launched a licensing review process for Moderna vaccine applied by GC Pharma, and we did our best to thoroughly verify its effectiveness and safety," said Kim Kang-lip, head of the MFDS." "It has closely verified its effectiveness, safety and quality in accordance with internationally harmonized licensing standards and systems with developed pharmaceutical countries such as the U.S. and Europe to help people receive safe vaccines," he said.
- Company
- Organon’s spinoff from MDS to be completed in June
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 24, 2021 05:51am
- Organon’s spinoff from MSD will soon be complete. Industry sources expect the administrative spin-off at the global headquarters of MSD and Organon to be completed within the next month (June). Following the spinoff, Organon & Co. will launch as a completely independent corporation in Korea as well. Organon’s Korean subsidiary has already moved into the shared office 'WeWork Gwanghwamun’ located in The K Twin Tower in Junghak-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul last year, and has undergone the necessary processes for its separation. However, the legal procedures of the spinoff may take a while. Organon is currently undergoing procedures to change the license holder for its products, etc. The delay in implementing the re-revised ‘Criteria for Decision or Adjustment on Drugs’ by the health authorities that will withdraw the stepped pricing system applied to the transfer of original products has been affecting the transfer of licenses in spinoffs including Organon. MSD had officially announced the spinoff of Organon last February and initiated the spinoff process. Through the spinoff, Organon was to become a newly established corporation focusing on women's health, off-patent drugs, and biosimilars. By product, ▲ ‘Renflexis,’ ‘Brenzys,’ and ‘Ontruzant,’ biosimilars developed by Samsung Bioepis commercialized by MSD; ▲ ‘Nexplanon,’ an etonogestrel implant; ▲ hyperlipidemia treatments ‘Zetia’ and ‘Vytorin’; ▲the respiratory drug ’Singulair'; as well as around 90 off-patent drugs will be transferred to Organon. Based on its leading contraception and fertility treatment business, the new Organon plans to invest in ‘innovation’ to meet the distinct healthcare needs of women today. Organon will also focus on its important biosimilars business, focusing on oncology and inflammatory diseases, while also maximizing the value of its trusted dermatology, pain, respiratory and cardiovascular portfolio in countries around the world where there is still a great need for these treatments. Meanwhile, Organon’s Korean subsidiary has appointed Kim So-Eun, MSD's ex external affairs Lead, as its first CEO. At the time of her appointment, CEO Kim had said, “In the Korean subsidiary, we plan to build a corporate culture where employees can enjoy various opportunities for growth in a horizontal and flexible environment while pursuing continuous growth and leadership for the company as well."
- Product
- Zuellig Pharma ends distribution at the end of this month
- by May 24, 2021 05:51am
- Zuellig Pharma Korea, a global drug distribution company, announced its order and return procedures to prevent confusion as of this month. According to pharmacies on the 24th, Zuellig Pharma Korea recently announced a re-announcement of the termination of the pharmacy distribution business to pharmacies and others. Although it has already provided guidance to pharmacies and others since early last month, it has been announced again about a week before the end. Zuellig Pharma Korea faced limited financial soundness due to worsening profits, and finally ended up abolishing its pharmacy retail division and conducting large-scale restructuring. About 80% of employees in the business department were reduced, leaving only a small number of employees. Announcement of Zuellig Pharma Korea Zuellig Pharma Korea said, "We decided to end our business of distributing medicines directly to pharmacies on May 31 and distribute them only through wholesale partners. We will service the distribution of Rx drugs directly through Kyungdongsa." The explanation is that drugs supplied through Zuellig Pharma Korea can be returned in accordance with normal procedures even after the business is closed. Pharmacies are confused. This is because pharmacies with relatively large transactions seem to continue through wholesale, but pharmacies with relatively small transactions may have returned them sequentially. "I've heard from the person in charge since April about the end of distribution due to accumulated deficits," a pharmacist at Pharmacy A said. "There was an advantage of direct transactions, but I don't know what will happen in the future." "It is expected that there will be no significant impact on continuous transactions, but I understand that some pharmacies with small transactions have already started organizing items," he said. Zuellig Pharma Korea plans to offer promotions for OTC through its affiliate ZP Therapeutics and its medical merchandiser. Sales of Zuellig Pharma Korea rose every year, but its operating loss in 2017 was ₩2.6 billion, in 2018 was ₩8.4 billion, and in 2019 was ₩6.8 billion. The debt ratio in 2016 exceeded the 200% level, which is a risk level of 1,720%, and it recorded 30,000% in 2019
- Company
- Tagrisso's 1st-line reimb. necessary based on its OS benefit
- by May 24, 2021 05:51am
- With ‘Tagrisso (osimertinib)’ winning recognition as the first-line standard treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, the demand for its reimbursement as first-line in Korea has also been increasing. At the Lung Cancer 1 session of the 19th Annual Symposium & General Assembly of the Korean Society of Medical Oncology that was held online on the 21st, Ji-youn Han, Head of the Lung Cancer Center at the National Cancer Center Korea emphasized the need for Tagrisso’s reimbursement based on the clinical data of Tagrisso. As a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), Tagrisso is indicated as first-line for EGFR mutated patients, but as its reimbursement is only applied when used as second-line, the drug is virtually used as a second-line treatment in Korea. This is in contrast to the reimbursement approved for first-line in other major countries around the world including the U.S., Germany, Italy, U.K, France, and Japan. Also, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend Tagrisso as a category 1 preferred regimen in first-line in EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The issue arose due to the sub-analysis results of the Asian subset in the Phase III FLAURA trial. The trial demonstrated an improvement in the overall survival (OS) in all patients, however, the hazard ratio for OS in Asian patients in the sub-analysis was 0.995. This means that there is only a 0.005 reduction in risk, which signifies that there is virtually no difference with the control group. This result had raised the question of whether there was any OS benefit in Asian patients. “The FLAURA study demonstrated a statistically significant OS improvement in the Targrisso arm compared to the control arm despite the crossover (allowing patients to switch treatments) that was ethically allowed for the control group, which could have affected the OS data,” said Han. With the crossover, only 5% of the 277 patients in the control group were able to maintain treatment with their original first-line treatment, 1st generation EGFR TKI (gefitinib or erlotinib). 65% crossed over to a different treatment, and around half of these patients, 47%, crossed over to Tagrisso. On the other hand, 22% of the 279 patients in the Tagrisso arm maintained their Tagrisso treatment, and 48% crossed over to different treatments. 68% of these patients received chemotherapy. The subgroup analysis results showed that HR was near 1 only in Asian patients and L858R-mutated patient groups. However, Han explained that Tagrisso’s benefit is also evident in these subgroups. Han said, “In non-Asians, the OS graph shows that Tagrisso and the control group show similar outcomes until year 1, then shows maintained OS improvement. However, in the Asian group, the graph shows a clear difference from the start. And the graph intersects after 3 years,” he explained. “So looking at the OS curve, you can see that the OS improvement is well maintained for over 3 years.” On the reason why the Asian and non-Asian group shows different graph movements, Han explained: “Considering that patients with L858R mutation showed similar graph movements, one can suspect that the L858R mutation rate may have been higher in Asians.” He added, “EGFR subtype by race shows that L858R mutation, which shows unfavorable prognosis, is half that of those with Exon19-deletion in the non-Asian group, however, in the Asian group, the L855R mutation accounted for two-thirds of those with Exon19-deletion. Han’s conclusion was that the OS graph evidently shows Tagrisso’s effect as a first-line treatment. As the progression-free survival (PFS) of Tagrisso is approximately 20 months, not many patients can afford to use Tagrisso without reimbursement in the first-line setting. This is also why doctors tend to consider a narrower scope for the use of Tagrisso. Han said, “At a time when the world is changing to Tagrisso for EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC, we are being faced with this barrier of reality and moving backward against the global trend. Oncologists should first consider Tagirsso as first-line treatment, and (the government) should solve the economic issues associated with its use.”
- Policy
- National Assembly is paying attention to news of AZ-Pfizer's
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan May 24, 2021 05:50am
- Overseas studies have shown that the second shot of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine after the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca (AZ) and Oxford University is effective and safe. The National Assembly also seems to be interested in responding to domestic quarantine authorities regarding cross-vaccination. Based on overseas research results, The KCDA has decided to carry out research on cross-vaccination of COVID-19. According to the multiple members of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee on the 20th, quarantine authorities such as the KCDA will be asked about the possibility of cross-vaccination and future plans for the COVID-19 vaccine. This is because overseas studies have shown that the immune effectiveness of AstraZeneca vaccine and Pfizer vaccine has been raised during the first and second cross-injections, respectively. The Carlos III Health Institute said Monday that it had tested 670 people aged 18 to 59 who had been vaccinated against AstraZeneca and concluded that they were "very safe." In the group that was inoculated with Pfizer, the immune response increased 120 times a week later, and the same level of immunity was maintained in the group that was only the first inoculation with AstraZeneca vaccine. Neutralizing antibodies that neutralize the COVID-19 increased seven times after the Pfizer vaccine. The effectiveness is more than twice as high as that of the first and second vaccinations with AstraZeneca alone. Only 1.7% reported side effects when cross-vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. Symptoms were mainly limited to headaches, muscle aches and fatigue, which were not serious, the researchers said. If the cross-vaccination effect between the virus vector vaccine and the mRNA vaccine is proven, it will directly affect the plan and status of vaccination for COVID-19 in Korea. This is why quarantine authorities, as well as the ruling and opposition parties of the National Assembly, are forced to react sensitively. As overseas research results come out, domestic quarantine authorities are also stepping up efforts to check the efficacy and safety of cross-vaccines. The KCDA said it was conducting a cross-vaccination study at the Korea National Institute of Health. The main goal of the study was to establish additional vaccination plans for AstraZeneca inoculators. The National Assembly is also expressing high interest in overseas research results and domestic research plans. The domestic supply and demand rate of COVID-19 vaccine and inoculation rate have been the main issue between the ruling and opposition parties. If effectiveness and safety are confirmed in cross-vaccination studies by quarantine authorities, the National Assembly will also be able to change or improve its national vaccination plan, which will change the focus of pending questions. An official of the National Assembly's welfare committee said, "The government has already secured the amount of vaccines that all citizens will receive and has also set up a supply and demand plan." However, the U.S. and others are reviewing various opinions every day on the need for booster shots or the amount of youth inoculation. "The effect of cross vaccination is a variable that can greatly improve not only the global inoculation plan but also domestic supply and demand." Another member of the National Assembly said, "If cross-vaccination between virus vector Astra vaccine and mRNA vaccine does not have a big problem with efficacy and safety, and increases the effect, it will be good news now that "There is still a lack of evidence on cross-vaccination and quarantine authorities will check the status and direction."
- Policy
- 438,000 doses of Pfizer Vaccines are received on the 19th
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan May 24, 2021 05:50am
- On the 19th, an additional 438,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which South Korea directly contracted with Pfizer, will arrive in South Korea. It is part of the 7 million units that are scheduled to be supplied in the first half of the year, which are received in small quantities every week. Lee Sang-won, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters epidemiological investigation and analysis team, said in a regular COVID-19 briefing on the 18th, "438,000 doses of contracted Pfizer vaccines will arrive at Incheon Airport tomorrow as scheduled. The rest will be supplied every week without a hitch." This supply is for the third week of May. It is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport in the early morning of the 18th at 438,000 doses, the same as last week. Earlier, the government decided to receive 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the first half of the year. The total amount of Pfizer vaccine contracted by the government is 66 million doses (for 33 million people), including additional contracts of 40 million doses (for 20 million people). If supply is completed by this week, 3.312 million Pfizer vaccines will be received in Korea. By the end of June, there will be 3.688 million doses left. Currently, 1.75 million doses are scheduled for May and 3.25 million doses for June.
- Company
- 8th meeting for Keytruda’s 3+ yrs pending reimb. to be held
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 21, 2021 05:27am
- The cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda will be up for its 8th deliberation by the Cancer Drug Review Committee. According to industry sources, MSD Korea’s application to expand the reimbursement of ‘Keytruda (pembrolizumab)’ to cover first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is expected to be put on the agenda for deliberation by the Cancer Drug Review Committee on the 26th. In March, MSD Korea had once again revised and submitted a final cost-sharing proposal to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). The reimbursement expansion for Keytruda had been discussed since September 2017, and over 3 years had already passed with no result. The biggest barrier to the reimbursement was the condition that the government set for the reimbursement expansion to companies of immunotherapy drugs, for 'the pharmaceutical companies' to bear the administration cost of the initial 3 cycles.' Roche, which owned ‘Tecentriq(atezolizumab),’ a latecomer to the market, was the only company to accept the government’s condition, and 2 types of PD-1 inhibitors – Keytruda and ‘Opdivo(nivolumab)’ did not accept the condition. Since then, MSD had repeatedly submitted and revised its proposal. The last discussion was held in August last year, during which the decision for the drug was put on hold as the committee believed that MSD Korea’s proposal lacked compromise on the company’s part. In September of the same year, HIRA handed the proposal back to MSD Korea and requested a re-revision. A month later, MSD Korea submitted a re-revised proposal, which was discussed by the reimbursement standard sub-committee meeting but to no avail. The agenda of Keytruda’s reimbursement was not deliberated by the Cancer Drug Review Committee. So, once again, MSD Korea submitted a cost-sharing plan to HIRA. The proposal submitted by MSD this time contains an offer equivalent to the company ‘covering the initial 3 cycles’ worth of administration cost’ by measures including adjusting the reimbursement rate. If this proposal is again deliberated and rejected by the Cancer Drug Review Committee, the possibility of expanding reimbursement of Keytruda may virtually be difficult. An MSD official said, “Although we cannot share details as discussions with the government are still ongoing, we will do our best so that our patients in Korea can promptly receive the global standard-of-care treatment.”
- Policy
- Antibiotics & Viagra were detected in the Han River
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan May 21, 2021 05:27am
- As Viagra (Sildenafil) was detected in the Han River, the drinking water source, for the first time following the residual antibiotics in the soil and rivers, related government ministries are criticized for not only identifying the situation but also preparing measures to prevent recurrence. It was focused on identifying whether waste medicines were the cause and preparing measures to prevent soil and water pollution through policy improvements, and consultations between ministries such as the MFDS and the Ministry of Environment seem urgent. On the 17th, the National Assembly asked the government to solve the problem of "the detection of Viagra in Han River" centered on the Health and Welfare Committee. Recently, Kim Hyunook's research team at University of Seoul released a paper that erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra (Sildenafil), Cialis (Tadalafil) and Levitra(Vardenafil) were detected in the Han River, a drinking water source. The title is "Contribution of Sewage to Occurrence of Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors in Natural Water," which confirmed the components of erectile dysfunction drugs in both Jungnangcheon and Gangnam Tancheon in Gangbuk, Seoul. The detection of antibiotics in the soil and rivers has already been confirmed, but this is the first time that erectile dysfunction drugs have been found. The National Assembly also takes this issue seriously. This is because soil, water pollution and ecosystem destruction issues caused by waste medicine are reported every year. Currently, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee is pending a bill called "mandatory drug guidance for pharmacists" proposed by Choi Yeon-sook. a member of the People Power Party. The bill allowed pharmacists to impose a fine of up to 1 million won in case of violation and mandatory guidance of the disposal drug treatment law during medication guidance. The head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also designated waste medicine collection day every year to promote the treatment method, and included a clause that obligates waste drug containers and packaging. In April, the Health and Welfare Committee decided to continue reviewing the bill. It is unclear whether the bill will be reexamined due to the Viagra detection issue of Han River water. Apart from the bill, the National Assembly is asking the MFDS and the Ministry of Environment to take measures to properly identify the cause of the problem and come up with measures to prevent a recurrence. They want to closely analyze why erectile dysfunction drugs were detected in the Han River, whether they are related to the incident, and consider measures to prevent recurrence based on analysis of the cause. The MFDS and the Ministry of Environment are expected to investigate the case. "The fact that erectile dysfunction drugs were detected in the Han River, a drinking water source, is a big problem," a National Assembly official said. "The MFDS and the Ministry of Environment should not delay responsibility." The official said, "If waste drugs are the cause of the Han River water crisis, we should improve policies and legislate to solve the problem." "We can't ignore the problem of detecting the active ingredients of medicine in the soil and river every year," he said. "It is time for clear cause analysis and countermeasures through cooperation between ministries."
