Promotion of new drugs·biosimilars at KOS annual conference

The annual meeting of the Korean Ophthalmological Society (KOS) was held on November 30 over three days

Global pharmaceutical companies have promoted their original pharmaceuticals, Vabysmo·Eylea·Beovu at the event

Kukje Pharm·Samil Pharm showcased their biosimilars to Eylea, Chong Kun Dang showcases its biosimilar to Lucentis

The Korean Ophthalmological Society (KOS) held an annual meeting for three days starting on November 30 at Coex.

Korean and international pharmaceutical and biotech industries are fiercely competing for marketing in the market for macular degeneration.

 

Global companies, including Novartis, Roche, and Bayer, and Korean pharmaceutical companies, including Kukje Pharm, Samil Pharm, and Chong Kun Dang, have participated in the annual meeting of the Korean Ophthalmological Society (KOS), held for three days starting on November 30 at Coex in Samsung-dong, Seoul, to showcase their treatments.

 

The treatment for macular degeneration has been dominated by Novartis' Lucentis and Beovu and Bayer's Eylea.

 

The competition intensified with the recent introduction of Roche's new drug, Vabysmo.

 

Additionally, Korean pharmaceutical companies specializing in ophthalmology have begun co-distributing Eylea biosimilars, Kukje Pharm with Celltrion, and Samil Pharm with Samsung Bioepis, thereby increasing competition in the market.

 

"Offers benefit of extended administration interval"…intense competition between Vabysmo·Eylea·Beovu According to the industry on December 2, companies with original macular degeneration pharmaceuticals, such as Novartis, Bayer, and Roche, participated at the international conference of the KOS.

 

(From left) Photo of Bayer, Novartis, and Roche booths.

Bayer focused on promoting the higher-dose version of 'Eylea.' Eylea works by binding to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and -B and growth factors, thereby inhibiting the binding to VEGFR and preventing activation.

 

Eylea is ranked No.1 in sales in the Korean market for macular degeneration.

 

Eylea generated sales of KRW 96.7 billion last year, according to market research firm IQVIA.

 

However, Bayer must prepare for drug entries and the introduction of biosimilars following the patent expiration.

 

Bayer and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have recently launched higher-dose Eylea (8 mg).

 

Bayer plans to extend the administration interval with the higher-dose formulation.

 

The lower-dose Eylea (2 mg) requires an administration every 2 months, whereas higher-dose Eylea extends the administration interval to once every 5 months.

 

Novartis concentrated on promoting 'Beovu,' a treatment for macular degeneration.

 

The company has two macular degeneration drugs, Beovu and Lucentis.

 

'Lucentis' has a mechanism similar to Eylea that inhibits VEGF-A, but the administration time is shorter.

 

Eylea is administered once every 2 months, whereas Lucentis must be administered monthly.

 

Also, Eylea provided superior improvement effects than Lucentis in the treatment of diabetic macular degeneration with a significant loss of vision.

 

Novartis is concentrating on Beovu, a follow-up treatment for macular degeneration.

 

Beovu has the benefit of once every 2-month administration intervals like Eylea.

 

Roche focuses on 'Vabysmo,' a macular degeneration treatment targeting a new mechanism.

 

After the treatment was approved for reimbursement in October 2023, it was introduced into the market as a latecomer.

 

Unlike conventional VEGF treatments such as Lucentis and Eylea, Vabysmo also inhibits the angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) pathway, thus inhibiting new blood vessel formation.

 

The analysis suggests that blocking two independent pathways can more effectively stabilize blood vessels and reduce inflammation, abnormal vessel growth, and fluid leakage than the VEGF-A pathway alone.

 

Existing treatments for diabetic macular edema (DME) include drugs with VEGF-inhibitory mechanisms, such as Eylea, Lucentis, Beovu, and Vabysmo.

 

The treatments that show benefits in maintaining administration are leading the market.

 

The market leader Eylea has recently extended the administration interval from once every 2 months to once every 5 months.

 

Vabysmo, emerged as a significant competitor, can be administered once every 4 months.

 

Korean pharmaceutical companies promote their biosimilars for macular degeneration Major Korean pharmaceutical companies are targeting the market with biosimilars to Eylea and Lucentis.

 

(Clockwise from upper left) Photo of Kukje Pharm, Samil Pharm, Sam Chun Dang Pharm, and Chong Kun Dang Booths.

 

Kukje Pharm and Samil Pharm have participated in the event with a Diamond sponsorship.

 

In April, Kukje Pharm signed an exclusive domestic sales agreement with Celltrion for Eylea biosimilar, ' Eydenzelt.' Eydenzelt was launched in the market in September.

 

Kukje Pharm suggests that the drug priced lower than Eylea could offer a benefit.

 

Samil Pharm promoted Samsung Bioepis' 'Afilivu,' a biosimilar to Eylea.

 

Afilivu was approved in South Korea in February.

 

It was launched in May and emerged in the market first among Eylea biosimilars.

 

In addition to the Afilivu deal, Samil Pharm and Samsung Bioepis are co-selling 'Amelivu,' a biosimilar to Lucentis.

 

Samsung Bioepis forges a path in the market after receiving approval for the pre-filled syringe formulation last month in addition to the existing vial formulation.

 

In addition to Samil Pharm, Samsung Bioepis, Kukje Pharm, and Celltrion, Sam Chun Dang Pharm is set to enter the market with its latecomer biosimilar to Eylea.

 

In December 2023, Sam Chun Dang Pharm applied for approval of vial·pre-filled syringe formulations of Eylea biosimilar 'SCD411.' At the event, Chong Kun Dang showcased its Lucentis biosimilar 'Lucen BS.' The sales of Lucen BS last year amounted to KRW 500 million, which was far from what was expected.

 

Chong Kung Dang plans to overturn the situation by reducing the price.

 

Starting this year, the company reduced the price of Lucen BS from KRW 300,000 to KRW 150,000.

 

The original Lucentis is priced at KRW 580,000 per vial, and Samsung Bioepis' Amelivu is priced at KRW 350,000 per vial.

 

Chong Kun Dang plans to expand the market with a price advantage compared to the original treatments.