Pfizer, Lilly, AbbVie engage in JAKi battle in KOR

Q1 2023 sales of Xeljanz, Olumiant and Rinvoq: KRW 3.3 billion, 3.7 billion, and 3.5 billion

Market size of KRW 40 billion… 'Blue Ocean' with annual growth of KRW 10 billion

Rinvoq and Olumiant effective in atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata... Cibinqo joins competition

Pfizer's Xeljanz and Lilly's Olumiant are engaged in an intense competition for sales in the JAK inhibitor market.

 

According to the distribution data of pharmaceuticals, Xeljanz (including Xeljanz XR) recorded sales of KRW 15.5 billion won last year, while Olumiant recorded KRW 15.4 billion.

 

Although Xeljanz maintained a slight lead, Olumiant has shown a faster infiltration rate in terms of growth.

 

Olumiant's sales in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 were KRW 2.2 billion, 9 billion, 12.6 billion, and 15.4 billion, respectively, representing a 600% increase over four years.

 

During the same period, Xeljanz recorded sales of KRW 14.6 billion, 16.2 billion, 15.1 billion, and 13.7 billion, with an additional sales increase of approximately KRW 2 billion in 2021 with the launch of Xeljanz XR.

 

AbbVie's Rinvoq has also established its position in the market quite quickly.

 

Its sales in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were approximately KRW 55 million, 2.6 billion, and 11.4 billion, respectively.

 

Although the representative JAK product Xeljanz has maintained its lead so far, the drug's prospects are unpredictable from this year onwards.

 

Already in Q1 2023, Xeljanz, Olumiant, and Rinvoq recorded sales of KRW 3.3 billion, 3.7 billion, and 3.5 billion, respectively, engaging in fierce competition.

 

The total market size of major JAK inhibitors has risen from KRW 16.8 billion, 25.3 billion, 31.1 billion, to 42.4 billion, demonstrating a growth close to KRW 10 billion each year and is being recognized as a blue ocean market.

 

The indications for Xeljanz Tab.

 

(tofacitinib) include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and ulcerative colitis.

 

The indications for Rinvoq PR Tab.

 

(upadacitinib) include atopic dermatitis, in addition to the indications of Xeljanz Tab.

 

Olumiant (baricitinib) has shown efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata.

 

Xeljanz XR Tab.

 

is prescribed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adults who do not respond adequately to or cannot tolerate methotrexate.

 

Furthermore, Pfizer has expanded its market share by launching the JAK1 inhibitor Cibinqo in November 2021, after receiving approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

 

This is the fourth JAK inhibitor that has been introduced to the Korean market, and the second JAK class drug to be introduced by Pfizer, following Xeljanz.

 

Cibinqo is expected to compete with Dupixent and Rinvoq as the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis.

 

Olumiant is a JAK inhibitor that has gained attention as a new treatment option for alopecia areata, a condition where therapies for autoimmune disease have shown limited effectiveness.

 

Olumiant has demonstrated significant improvements, 6-10 times more than placebo, through two large-scale clinical trials.

 

While Rinvoq was previously reimbursed only for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults, starting from April this year, reimbursement for adolescents aged 12 and above has been approved.

 

As a result, it is anticipated that adolescent patients with atopic dermatitis will have improved accessibility to treatment.