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- 2025-12-26 09:24:31
- Policy
- President Moon, COVID-19 treatment should be cooperated
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Mar 31, 2020 06:28am
- President Moon Jae-in speaks at the G20 Special Summit on the 26th to find the mutual assistance for COVID-19 in the main office of Cheong Wa Dae. (Photo = Cheong Wa Dae)President Moon Jae-in raised the need for international solidarity and policy coordination to develop new treatments and vaccines for new coronavirus infections (COVID-19). It was also said to maintain the essential flow of economic exchange between countries to minimize the negative impact COVID-19 has on the world economy. It was held on the 26th at a special summit meeting of 20 major councils (G20) to respond to COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. President Moon shared Korea's preemptive and transparent measures of quarantine with the international community, and emphasized strengthening international solidarity to overcome COVID-19. Specifically, he said that ▲G20 member countries' experience of COVID-19 prevention and sharing of clinical data, ▲co-development of therapeutics and vaccines and▲support for cooperation are needed among vulnerable countries in health and medical care. President Moon said that COVID-19 Pandemic could be compared to the global financial crisis in 2008, and the solidarity of the G20 member countries will help overcome the difficulties. He is unsure about Korea's cases of COVID-19 quarantine, but he said that the Korean government has responded to the three principles of openness, transparency, and democracy from the very beginning to the present, and the government screened tremendously to find confirmed patients, traced the path of infection, and isolated isolates from confirmed patients. President Moon said that Korea has developed a fast and highly accurate diagnostic reagent early, and that the quarantine is thoroughly managed with a drive-through clinic, self-isolation app, and self-diagnosis app. It was emphasized that special immigration procedures were also implemented to maximize the prevention effect. In particular, President Moon proposed cooperation in the prevention of COVID-19 between G20 member countries, clinical data sharing, and the development of therapeutics and vaccines. He also said that it would strengthen the global financial safety net through support for vulnerable countries in health care and expanded macro policies. In addition, President Moon diagnosed that maintaining the essential flow of economic exchanges between countries would minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the world economy. President Moon said that Korea actively participates in international vaccine development efforts, health field development cooperation, developing countries' efforts to strengthen infectious diseases, and supports the chairman's proposal to come up with an action plan at the G20 level, looking forward to in-depth discussions on specific cooperation measures. He added that it is important to maintain the essential flow of economic exchanges between countries. To that end, he said that G20 would seek ways to allow the movement of essential personnel, such as scientists, doctors, and entrepreneurs, without compromising the country's defense measures. and they will show strong leadership in responding to this crisis with its capabilities that helped overcome the global financial crisis in 2008.
- Policy
- Strengthen the standards of international conference support
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Mar 30, 2020 09:42am
- A draft of improved standards for supporting academic conferences, which have been partially exploited as a link between medical/medical device companies and medical rebates, has been prepared. In the case of the international conferences, the number of participants participating in the evaluation criteria has been strengthened three times, and new closing report items for labor costs, rental fees, food and beverage expenses, and other expenses are created, and at the same time, there is a ban on additional provision of booths and advertising fees. In the case of domestic conferences, the provisions of the self-pay rate and the conditions for returning surpluses are deleted in consideration of the fairness and fairness of the international competitions, but use is limited. Scholarships for foreign conferences are divided into differential and policy support depending on the item. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has recently released an improvement plan under consideration for current questions regarding the standards for supporting medical and medical equipment companies' medical conferences. This improvement aimed at ▲strengthening the management of international academic conferences ▲ realizing domestic academic conferences ▲ preparing support for participation in foreign academic conferences. ◆International Convention Management Reinforcement Plan and Support Plan= The government plans to revise the 'Academic Convention and Donation Recognition and Review Committee Regulations' in the medical industry and the industry to revise the 'fair competition rules' to strengthen international evaluation and management. First, evaluation standards such as the number of foreign countries and the number of foreign participants are strengthened. The current standard must be held for at least 2 days with more than 150 foreigners 'or' from 5 countries. However, it is necessary to meet all of the requirements for foreign health care professionals from more than 5 countries and more than 50 people and to hold more than 2 days in the future. In other words, the evaluation criteria for foreign participation have been strengthened three times and the 'or' standard is changed to 'and', which is a mandatory requirement. The standards of foreign health professionals were also clarified, including presenters, chairpersons, and panelists. A follow-up management system for subsidies is also established. The government should newly settle the report on labor costs, rental, food and beverage, and other expenses, and disclose the list of academic conferences recognized by the KMA on the website. In addition, a ban on additional provision of booths and advertising expenses in addition to donations will be newly established. The government decided to include this in the revision of the Fair Competition Code. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it plans to send an official letter to the medical community when future rules are revised, and to strengthen the verification of participating academic conferences and prohibit duplicate receipt of participation funds when receiving medical institution travel expenses. ◆Domestic conference realization plan= In the case of a domestic conference, the government decided to remove the provision of 30% self-pay rate in consideration of the fairness of the international conference. The conditions for returning surplus funds are also deleted. However, the government decided to limit the use of unreturned surplus funds for the purpose of hosting the next academic conference. In addition, as in the international convention, a prohibition to additionally provide booths and advertising fees in addition to donations is newly established. It will be included in the new protocol. ◆Support plan for participation in foreign conferences= In the case of the flat-rate portion, which is an issue of foreign conferences, it should be clarified by item. The government decided to stipulate that when companies apply for participation in foreign competitions, the cost of meals is differential by country, and local transportation costs are fixed. Specific grades and amounts will be defined through consultation between groups. Unlike the government's previous efforts to improve the system, the government explained that the improvement plan was led and discussed by the medical and industrial sectors. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said, “The medical industry actively took the lead in preparing the improvement plan by establishing voluntary and rational internal standards while actively sympathizing with the need to improve the standards for holding the event, and the industry actively participated in the improvement of fair competition rules and contributed to the understanding of the needs of member companies.” In the future, the Fair Trade Commission (the Knowledge Industry Monitoring Division) will review the revisions to the Fair Competition Rules and then proceed with the approval review. When the revision is confirmed, the 'Academic Conference and Donation Target Recognition/Review Committee Regulations will be revised to set the standards for academic conference recognition. However, this improvement plan has been agreed after a long discussion with the medical community (the KMA·medical society) and the pharmaceutical and medical device industry (the KPBMA, the KRPIA, the KMDIA). There may be some changes in the process of revising the fair competition rules.
- Policy
- How will be negotiated generic drug prices?
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Mar 30, 2020 06:18am
- The details of the amendments to various systems that change the framework for drug coverage have been unveiled at once. The MOHW and the HIRA announced on the 23rd, 'Partial Amendments to the Rules for Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Listing Standard and Methods (Draft)', 'Criteria for Decision or Adjustment on Drugs', 'Partially revised detailed evaluation criteria for drugs to be negotiated, such as new drugs', and plan to conduct an opinion inquiry for 80 days until June 11th. Some of the amendments to the legislative and administrative notices and advance notices are follow-up measures to supplement the drug price policy this year, which the government reported to the subcommittee on the Health Insurance Policy Deliberative Committee in December last year. In particular, the rules regarding the standard of medical care allowances are that generic drugs that are registered through the drug price calculation method instead of drug price negotiations have also been required to undergo drug price negotiations for 60 days. As of yet, the status of the 'Determination and Adjustment of Pharmaceuticals' and 'Detailed Operation Guidelines' have not yet been issued from the NHIS. The amendments to the rules that have been published so far ▲ complement the principles of the decision on medical care benefits, the detailed principles of the decision on the medical care benefits, and the introduction of a priority system between drugs (draft 1, Article 2) ▲ Introduce regulations to reject the application for a decision in case of attempting to register by avoiding drug price cuts (Article 10-2)▲ Unification procedure of drug registration decision (Article 11-2) ▲ When adjustment is necessary due to changes in permits, it is admitted that adjustment is necessary in consideration of other foreign drug permits, insurance listing status, and clinical evidence (Article 13). In the case of the NHIS, it is underway to put some flesh on the bones of this system, and the establishment of a standard contract for concrete generic drug price negotiations and the establishment of a statistical and computational management system for negotiations. Initially, the NHIS planned to release such information and gather opinions related to the drug price policy through regular meetings of the pharmaceutical industry scheduled for the coming 31st, but decided to replace the face-to-face meetings in writing due to the spread of COVID-19. The NHIS first consulted with pharmaceutical companies such as the KPBMA, the KRPIA, and the KOBIA for opinions on the proposed rule amendment by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and plan to receive opinions on general drug negotiations from domestic pharmaceutical companies such as small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies.
- Policy
- Rapid support to develop COVID-19 vaccines & treatments
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Mar 29, 2020 11:19pm
- Taeho Yoon, director of Disinfection, the central disaster management headquartersThe government said it was moving rapidly to support R&D for the development of 'COVID-19' vaccine and exclusive treatment. Taeho Yoon, the director of Disinfection, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters (Public Health Policy Officer, the MOHW) today (25th) morning after the video conference about COVID-19/the central disaster and safety countermeasure headquarters made the announcement through a press briefing. Because COVID-19 does not have a dedicated treatment, the government has taken measures to make health insurance available and were preferentially made to be used for 7 types of treatment for other diseases such as AIDS treatment and malaria treatment based on expert recommendations such as the KSID. At the end of January, in the early stage of the influx, a budget of about ￦1.6 billion was urgently provided to assist domestic pharmaceutical companies to quickly begin research on the development of exclusive treatments. Director Taeho Yoon emphasized that we are working closely with domestic researchers and pharmaceutical companies to research treatment and vaccine development, such as adding an additional ￦6 billion, including a reserve of ￦1 billion and an additional ￦5 billion, and expediting approval of clinical plans.
- Policy
- Gangnam Severance to test chloroquine preventing COVID-19
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:18pm
- Gangnam Severance HospitalGangnam Severance Hospital is to conduct a research-purpose clinical trial on malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to test its preventive effect, as it is currently used on patients with COVID-19. On Mar. 25, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approved the clinical trial protocol on a ‘Study on Hydroxychloroquine’s Post-exposure Prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2,’ submitted by Gangnam Severance Hospital. Professor Song Younggoo at Infectious Disease Department would lead the study. Unlike other clinical trials on chloroquine, the researchers would test the medicine’s preventive effect and not the treatment effect. Accordingly, the study participants would not be the confirmed cases, but people who came in contact with a confirmed patient, regardless of showing symptoms. The participants would be eligible for the study only within 72 hours since their contact with confirmed patient. The protocol calls for total 2,486 participants. Lasting until March next year, the study would use Hanlim Pharm’s Haloxin as a trial drug. The investigators would confirm the infection conversion rate of COVID-19 by confirming the participants' negative infection test first before the administration of the drug and testing them again 14 days after the exposure. Both tests would use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Prior to the latest approval, Asan Medical Center also received an approval for a hydroxychloroquine clinical trial. But Asan Medical Center is testing the medicine’s treatment effect in patients with COVID-19.
- Policy
- “Lowest A7 price for latecommer PE-exempted RSA drug”
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Mar 29, 2020 11:18pm
- When a first-in-class drug is listed with risk sharing agreement (RSA), a follow-on pharmacoeconomic evaluation (PE)-exempted drug would be reviewed for reimbursement feasibility with price higher than the lowest A7-adjusted price. And the revised review criteria added a phrase, ‘only referring to drugs with public health insurance reimbursement in foreign countries or equivalent level of coverage,’ for reviewing international adjusted average price based on overseas reimbursement listing status. Korea’s Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) is accepting public opinion for 80 days until June 11 on the revised ‘Review Criteria on New Drug and Negotiating Drugs’ with the said changes. The review criteria has been set to provide basis for the Article 11-2 of Rules on National Health Insurance Reimbursement Standard, the Article 7 of Pharmaceutical Decision and Adjustment Standards and the Article 4 of Regulation on Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Listing Evaluation Standard and Procedure. The revised notice preannounced by Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) includes details of applying RSA on follow-on drugs, which HIRA has specified by setting down ‘Evaluation Criteria on Drugs Applied with Manufacturer’s Compliance Terms (RSA).’ For RSA eligible drug groups, MOHW has included drugs exempted from PE data submission among drugs reviewed as cost-effective for reimbursement. HIRA defined drugs that fall under ‘the Article 6-2 of Regulation on Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Listing Evaluation Standard and Procedure’ are the RSA applicable subjects. These drugs could be subject to RSA when qualifying conditions with their main indications. But, even drugs qualifying with additional indication could be applicable as well, if the main indication has been verified as cost-effective. The standard of a ‘main’ indication depends on the patient size. One of the PE exemption conditions, ‘the committee evaluates the subject patient size is too limited for evidence development,’ is decided based on the reimbursement beneficiary patient size (within Korea) and projected patient size status. Regardless of the Article 6-2, a reimbursement-seeking follow-on drug with treatment level equivalent to first-in-class PE-exempted RSA drug would follow the evaluation criteria and post-management standards of the first-in-class drug. These drugs’ pricing would be decided based on the lowest of adjusted price from A7 countries (the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Japan). The labeled price for the refund type RSA would be decided considering the price offered by the pharmaceutical company, and the offered price should be higher than the lowest A7 adjusted price. But in case the estimated selling price (actual price) offered by the company is higher than the evaluation standard price, the company may offer unit cost of the applicant drug taking the lowest A7-adjusted price into account. A Korean-developed drug approved first time in the world in Korea, with reimbursement listing in three A7 countries, would be priced considering lowest A7-adjusted price of a same-class drug, and the ones with listing in less than three A7 countries would receive price decided by Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) based on 10 percent premium on the highest price of alternative drug and external adjusted price of same-class drug. A phrase stating ‘only referring to drugs with public health insurance reimbursement in foreign countries or equivalent level of coverage’ has been added to the definition of foreign adjusted average price, as a part of overseas listing status evaluation criteria.
- Policy
- “NA should stop loosening new drug regulation”
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Mar 29, 2020 11:17pm
- Prior to the upcoming general election, health related civic groups are voicing out to the National Assembly (NA) about their disapproval on over-the-counter (OTC) drug sold outside of pharmacy and profit-making pharmacy. The groups urged the lawmakers to establish public pharmaceutical company, learning from COVID-19 outbreak, and stop alleviating pharmaceutical regulations, and also to reinforce public infrastructure of healthcare human resources by expanding the share of public healthcare institutes up to 30 percent. On Mar. 24, the Free Healthcare Campaign Center convened a press conference in front of the NA to demand public health expansion policies for the general election. The Campaign Center has reprehended the ruling and opposition parties for not setting forth policies regarding new infectious disease responding public health improvement and financial support to overcome life-threatening disaster when COVID-19 is spreading and April general election is approaching. The organization pointed out that most of political parties are neglecting the voters’ needs when the election is to be held amid the global catastrophe. Specifically, the organization demanded the NA to secure the share of public healthcare institute at least up to 30 percent to protect the lives of the people from highly detrimental infectious disease like COVID-19. The Campaign Center official stated, “As a start, the NA should open public healthcare clinics in Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan and Western Gyeongnam Provicne, buyout Cheongdo Dae Nam Hospital and Busan Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital and make Daegu Dongsan Hospital public.” “Although a political party claims infectious disease specializing hospitals should be opened, the special hospital would eventually follow the footsteps of Ajou University Hospital Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Division,” the official added. The officials explained the government should hire doctors and nurses as public health infrastructure for the public healthcare institutes. And the organization appealed the necessity of mandatory service of medical professionals at public healthcare institutes by passing a bill on establishing public medical school. The Campaign Center demanded for a financial support, such as sickness benefit, and temporarily lessened medical expense in case of disaster. The organization argues Korea should also implement the sickness benefit policy as most of OECD member countries provide income security when treated from public health insurance. They explained it would provide more practical support if paid leaves are given institutionally and layoff is banned during COVID-19, like in other countries Moreover, the officials demanded the government to significantly reduce copayment rate to allow the people to use medical care sufficiently, despite economic recession and income cut. More specifically, the Campaign Center demanded for public pharmaceutical company. COVID-19 vaccine has unclear prospects in profit making and return on investment. And a public pharmaceutical company should take over the job as private companies are reluctant about the vaccine production. The officials also stressed again the government should stop alleviating pharmaceutical regulations, such as the Cutting-edge Regenerative Medicine Act. The official urged, “Even the distribution of over-the-counter and essential drugs would struggle as pharmaceutical exports are restricted due to the outbreak,” and “to stabilize production of essential drugs crucial to public health management, public pharmaceutical company is necessary.” “While incidents like fake drug Invossa is happening, the NA has passed the Cutting-edge Regenerative Medicine Act that loosens safety regulations on genetic treatment and stem cell treatments. It is a law that approves drugs so easily, regardless of clinical trial process. And OTC sales should not be allowed outside of pharmacy and legislating profit-making pharmacy should be dropped,” the official added.
- Policy
- Saxenda's misuse and abuse are discussed
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Mar 26, 2020 06:12am
- Self-injecting agent used for the purpose of weight loss The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to release and disclose self-injection system safety management measures such as 'Saxenda', which has recently increased in sales volume as a weight management supplement. However, in the course of the discussion, there was still a large difference in opinion between doctors and pharmacists. Patients do not abuse, and agree to strengthen education to use properly, and disagreements have emerged among educational subjects.. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is unlikely to be a government agency that can determine the number of divisions or increases in the discussion process, so it is expected to draw a final focus on strengthening patient education. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDA) plans to deliberate and write a consultation on the adequacy and validity of the measures to support the safe use of biopharmaceutical self-injection drugs from the 30th to April 3rd. Through this, the policy is to prepare a final draft. Previously, Minutes of the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council held in January were also released. Specialists representing representatives of doctors and pharmacists and experts from consumer organizations also attended the meeting. At the meeting, it was said that they agreed to the direction of measures to support the safe use of self-injection drugs. The main content is strengthening education such as directions. However, there was a disagreement between the representatives of physicians and pharmacists over the subject of education. A doctors' group official argued that the hospital should be the center of education, while a pharmacist's group said that the pharmacy should be the educational subject. As pharmacies strengthened their education, it was also suggested that fundamental problems, such as mandatory outpatient’s prescription of self-injection and increase in pharmaceutical charge, should also be considered. Another opinion is that patients should be trained in the hospital for initial treatment and in the pharmacy during continuous treatment. In the end, they all acknowledged the need to strengthen education so that patients could use self-injection. However, there is a slight disagreement over the subject of education because the self-injection system is an exception in the current system of separation of prescribing and dispensing drugs, 'Getting treatment to doctors, dispense to pharmacists'. Saxenda is an injection, but because it can be used by patients outside the hospital, it is also sold in hospitals and in pharmacies. Moreover, as it is used for cosmetic purposes such as weight loss, side effects caused by misuse have also been raised. In the last year's parliamentary assembly, the issue was raised, and there was also an opinion that self-injection prescriptions should be mandatory for outpatient’s prescription. Accordingly, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced that it will prepare measures for abuse and correct use of patients. An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "We are looking for ways to focus on strengthening education within a framework that can be used correctly without abuse by the patient, and plan to make a final plan in the near future through expert opinion". The MFDS is expected to come up with a plan to strengthen video education and practice education with usage, expand public awareness of misuse, strengthen crackdown on illegal advertising violations, and check illegal distribution. However, It is clear that the mandatory outpatient prescription (separation of prescribing and dispensing drugs) and the increase in pharmaceutical charge are not included in the management of the MFDS. In the end, even if the Ministry of Food and Drug Affairs comes out, it is expected that the conflict between physicians and pharmacists will continue despite the subject of sales and guidance of self-injection.
- Policy
- Domestic drugs, access to the Chilean procurement market
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Mar 26, 2020 06:11am
- The KHIDI (Director Deok-cheol Kwon) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chile's Health Procurement Service (CENABAST, Valentin Diaz Gracia, Chief Executive Officer) and Korean companies to advance into public procurement of pharmaceuticals in Chile. The Chilean Health Procurement Authority (CENABAST) manages the public procurement of all medicines and medical devices in Chile and supplies them to public health institutions. Through the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the two sides agreed to ▲discover excellent Korean companies that meet procurement needs ▲sign an export contract with the Korean Corporate and CENABAST ▲actively support and cooperate with Korean companies to obtain approval from the Chilean Public Health Service( Instituto de Salud Pública, ISP). In particular, it is said that through this cooperation, products that have not been approved for marketing in Chile can participate in procurement through the preparation of required documents if they have a Korean marketing license. It is said that cooperation with the CENABAST has made it possible to enter the market more quickly. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was promoted on the basis of cooperation between the two countries' Ministry of Health (G2G), and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and the Republic of Korea in 2015 became an important foundation, the KHIDI said. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health is based on information exchange and joint project cooperation to promote mutual cooperation in areas of common interest, such as health care policy, pharmaceutical and medical device cooperation, and aging. Meanwhile, the KHIDI signed a three-way agreement with the KPBMA (Chairman Hee-mok Won) and the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association (Chairman Jang-suk Oh), and plans to cooperate to find companies and derive results to expand the domestic pharmaceutical industry into the Chilean market. To cooperate. It is expected that the agreement will accelerate Korean companies' entry into Chile. Chile has a market of $4.2 billion in pharmaceuticals last year. In addition, the CENABAST's public procurement purchases amounted to $1 billion, of which pharmaceutical products accounted for 84.2%, the highest at $ 850 million. The government's medical spending is expected to continue to increase due to the increased incidence of chronic diseases in Chile, the aging population, and the expansion of access to healthcare services to improve health care. Chile's major importers of pharmaceuticals are the United States, Germany, France and India, and Korea ranks 28th in the total import market. Korean companies such as Daewoong, Korea United Pharm, Green Cross, Daewon Pharmaceutical, Samjin Pharm, Ildong Pharmaceutical, and Boryung have exported biosimilars, anti-cancer drugs, and pharmaceuticals to Chile.
- Policy
- Sanofi’s new laxative line-up DulcoSoft approved in Korea
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Mar 26, 2020 06:11am
- The world’s top-selling constipation treating drug brand ‘Dulcolax’ The world’s leading constipation relief Dulcolax maker Sanofi is expanding the brand line-up. The global company means to consolidate the leadership in the competitive Korean laxative market with new oral solution. On Mar. 23, Sanofi-Aventis Korea has received Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s (MFDS) approval on DulcoSoft powder (macrogol 4000). In the market, there are two other products with macrogol 400. The non-absorbable osmotic laxative medicine improves defecation by increasing the volume of intestinal fluids to the stools. Macrogol 4000 is widely used in over-the-counter laxative for chronic constipation. Currently Ahn-gook Pharmaceutical’s Forlax powder and Ipsen Korea’s Ipsen Macrogol 4000 powder are two other macrogol 4000 medications approved in Korea. DulcoSoft was actually released once in Korea as an offshoot of Dulcolax brand. Before Sanofi acquired Dulcolax from Boehringer Ingelheim, it was launched in Korean market in 2009. Since Sanofi took over Dulcolax in 2016, Dulcolax-S enteric coating tablet (docusate sodium, bisacodyl) and Dulcolax suppositories (bisacodyl) are available in Korea at the moment. Dulcolax is the world’s top-selling chronic constipation treatment. According to global healthcare consulting firm Nicholas Hall, Dulcolax was the most sold laxative in 2018. Since the release in 1953, Dulcolax has been sold in over hundred countries. The laxative was introduced to the Korean market in 1976, and it has been leading the market for over 17 years. Sanofi says 5.2 packages were sold per minute in 2018. Pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA found Dulcolax has generated over 13.1 billion won in Korea last year. It topped the market easily putting aside other competitors like Mayqueen-Q by Myung In Pharmaceutical (5.2 billion won), Bicogreen S by Kolon Pharma (2.5 billion won) and Alaxyl by Bukwang Pharm (1.9 billion won). However, the industry experts see that well-known brand name is not enough to defend the title as many laxative makers are aggressively marketing their products. Sanofi’s intention is to add a new line-up to secure the market share. DulcoSoft is recommended to adults and children aged eight years and over. It can be taken one or two sachets dissolved in a liquid to take once-daily, but for children, one sachet in two days is recommended depending on symptoms. The benefits occur within one or two days. However, children should not take the medication for more than three months.
