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- 2026-05-19 13:18:02
- 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."
- Company
- ASCO 2021 preview: News drugs from Yuhan, Genexin, and Hanmi
- by An, Kyung-Jin May 21, 2021 05:27am
- ASCO 2019 학회 전경(자료: ASCO) The organizers of the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting (ASCO 2021) released the accepted abstracts on the 19th (local time), two weeks ahead of the virtual event that will be held next month, from June 4-8. The ASCO meeting is considered one of the most important events for biopharmaceutical companies around the world in introducing the latest clinical data on anticancer drugs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all schedules in the 5-day event, including its keynote lectures, poster sessions, and exhibitions will be held virtually, non-face-to-face, for the second consecutive year. The abstracts of Korean biopharmaceutical companies including Yuhan Corporation, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, MedPacto, and Genexin that have been developing new anticancer drugs have also been unveiled with the pre-release. Whether the long-awaited international event will be able to rekindle investors’ interest in the biopharmaceutical industry is drawing attention. At the event, the multinational pharmaceutical company Janssen will be presenting 2 studies on the combination of its EGFR/cMET dual antibody ‘amivantamab’ and Yuhan Corporation’s new drug ‘Leclaza (lasertinib).’ The abstracts are an update from the Phase 1b CHRYSALIS study that received much attention at the ESMO 2020 Meeting last year. The abstract focuses on the potential of the combination in overcoming the resistance issue of its competitor ‘Tagrisso (osimertinib).’ The study focused on delaying cancer progression through treatment with amivantamab in combination with Leclaza in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or L858R mutations who have acquired resistance to Tagrisso. The study focused on analyzing the biomarkers while conducting genetic testing through next-generation sequencing (NGS) in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to profile each patient’s tumor. If each patient’s response rate could be predicted in advance, this could maximize the response rate of the amivantamab and Leclaza combination therapy. Results showed that among the 45 patients whose disease had progressed on osimertinib that were administered 240mg of Leclaza and 1050mg or 1400mg of the amivantamab and Leclaza combination, the ORR(objective response rate) was 36% (95% CI, 22–51), with 1 patient showing complete response and 15 showing partial responses. Up to this, the data presented were similar to those presented at the ESMO 2020 last year. However, the investigators additionally presented an analysis of potential biomarkers of response. According to the analysis, 8 out of the 17 patients with EGFR and/or MET-based mutations – which is known to be the cause of resistance to Tagrisso – showed a confirmed tumor response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) of these patients was 6.7 months (3.4months- not reached). However, as some (8 patients) of the 18 patients who had unknown mechanisms of Tagrisso-resistance also showed a partial response to the regimen, grounds for its use as a biomarker was seen to be insufficient. 9 out of 10 Immunohistochemistry (IHC) high patients (90%) showed a high response rate to treatment, but the abstract determined that further investigation is warranted. More progressed data on the study will be shared at the oral abstract session for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer on the 5th, the second day of the meeting. The principal investigator of the Phase III LASER301 trial, Professor Byoung Chul Cho (Director of the Lung cancer center, Yonsei Cancer Center), will be presenting the session. Genexin released an abstract on the interim results of its Phase 2 clinical trial that evaluated the combination of its cervical cancer DNA vaccine 'GX-188E' with Merck(MSD)’s immunotherapy ‘Keytruda(pembrolizumab).’ The abstract contained results of the efficacy group of patients with late-stage recurrent or advanced HPV-positive (HPV-16 or HPV-18) cervical cancer. 5 of the 48 patients had a complete response (CR) where the target lesion completely disappeared, and 10 had a partial response (PR) where the target lesion was reduced by 30% or more. The objective response rate (ORR) was 31.3%. Subanalysis results showed that the ORR of patients with PD-L1 positive, HPV-16, and squamous cell carcinoma was highest, being 48%. The combination therapy showed an improved median PFS of 4.1 months, and OS of 16.7 months compared to Keytruda monotherapy. Most of the patients who experienced adverse events showed grade 1 or 2 adverse events, demonstrating that there were no safety issues concerning to the combination therapy. The details of the GX-188E and Keytruda combination will be introduced at the oral abstract session on the first day of the ASCO meeting, on the 4th (local time). MedPacto released the Phase 1b/2a trial results of ‘vactosertib’ (capecitabine)’ combined with ‘Keytruda’ in microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. According to the abstract, 5 of the 33 patients enrolled in the trial reached PR, and the ORR was 15.2%. 7 patients had stable disease where the tumor did not grow further. Industry has seen that the study fully demonstrated the potential of vactosertib as a combination option in MSS mCRC as the response rate of Keytruda monotherapy is near 0% for the disease. Further clinical data on more patients and the OS data and doses will also be released in the final poster that will be released on the 4th (local time). Hanmi Pharmaceutical has released the latest update on ‘belvarafenib,’ which was licensed to Genentech. The results are from a Phase I trial of belvarafenib in combination with cobimetinib in patients with BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanoma. The abstract shows further progress that had been made since the last presentation at the 2019 ASCO meeting. According to the abstract, 5 of the 13 NRAS-mutant melanoma patients reached PR, giving an ORR of 38.5%. Currently, no approved standard of care exists for NRAS-mutant melanoma. According to clinicaltrials.gov, a clinical trial registration website operated by the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), Genentech had recently registered a new global Phase I clinical trial on belvarafenib. The Phase 1b study will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of belvarafenib as a single agent and in combination with either ‘Cotelic (cobimetinib) or Cotelic plus ‘Tecentriq (atezolizumab)’ in patients with NRAS-mutant advanced melanoma who have previously received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. As this is the first clinical trial initiated for a belvarfenib combination therapy by Genetech in 5 years since singing the technology transfer deal with Hanmi Pharmaceutical, concerns over the deal cancellation have been said to be resolved. Analysts predict that if the three-dug combo including belvarafenib shows a superior response rate over ‘Zelboraf,’ the new drug’s value may increase additionally.
- Policy
- Samsung & Pfizer compete in Avastin biosimilar market
- by Lee, Tak-Sun May 21, 2021 05:26am
- Samsung Bioepis and Pfizer will compete in the domestic market for anti-cancer drug Avastin (Bevacizumab, Roche Korea). There will be a rare competition between domestic companies and global companies over generics. The MFDS approved Jairabeve of Pfizer Korea on the 18th. Jairabeve (Bevacizumab) is biosimilar for Avastin in Roche, Korea. Equivalence between Jairabeve and Avastin has been demonstrated. Clinical trials were conducted to assess the equivalence of drug in a total of 388 patients with progressive or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with healthy adult male volunteers, demonstrating statistical equivalence. Avastin recorded sales of ₩118 billion in South Korea last year. It is ranked third in sales. It is used for metastatic direct connective bowel cancer, metastatic breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, progressive or metastatic kidney cell cancer, glioblastoma, epithelial ovarian cancer, ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer, and cervical cancer. Earlier in March, Samsung Bioepis was first licensed for biosimilar for Onbevey in Korea. Onbevey is not yet on the list. Industries predict that the two drugs will compete in the second half of this year. As Samsung Bioepis has been targeting the domestic market in partnership with large domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Yuhan and Daewoong , chances are high that it will form partnerships with domestic pharmaceutical companies again this time. Pfizer has a well-established distribution network for large hospitals in Korea, so the release of biosimilar will also affect Roche's Avastin, the original drug. In the biosimilar market, not only Samsung Bioepis and Celltrion but also global pharmaceutical companies are releasing products one after another, which is expected to compete with domestic pharmaceutical companies.
- Company
- Tylenol is in short supply for a long time
- by Kim, Jin-Gu May 21, 2021 05:26am
- Along with the issue of side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in pharmacies, the shortage of Tylenol is intensifying. Domestic companies with generic products are expecting reflective profits. Several companies are said to have started marketing related to Tylenol shortages so that they can lead to increased sales of other generics of acetaminophen. Tylenol According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 14th, Tylenol has become more scarce in outpatient pharmacies over the past month. In the case of Tylenol and Tylenol 8-hour ER, it is confirmed that they are completely out of stock at online malls exclusively for major pharmacies. Analysts say that the issue of side effects of COVID-19 vaccine and the government's guidance have caused a shortage. As the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 increased, the side effects of fever and muscle pain increased, and more people wanted to buy Tylenol. In addition, the quarantine authorities guided, "If fever occurs after vaccination, it is recommended to take fever reducer such as Tylenol," and most pharmacies are now unable to find Tylenol. Pharmacists are recommending generic products instead of original Tylenol. A pharmacist who runs a pharmacy in Seoul said, "The number of people looking for Tylenol has more than doubled than usual," adding, "We recommend generics because Tylenol is not available." "If the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 increases in the future, sales of generic products will increase." Another pharmacist in Daejeon said, "We're barely getting Tylenol. I think it's been about a month. Wholesale stores offer limited supplies to each pharmacy. If generics are recommended, one to two out of 10 people buy the drug." As the shortage of Tylenol intensifies, its effects are gradually expanding to other generics. Sales of Samjin's Geworin, Jong Kun Dang's PENZAL-Q, Dong-A's Panpyrin, and Daewoong's EZN6 Ace, which include the same ingredients as Tylenol, are reportedly increasing little by little. Geworin Cooldown Korean companies are also starting related marketing in line with this trend. Emphasizing that it is the generics for those who have not obtained Tylenol, it is necessary to prepare for the possibility of side effects after vaccination. In the case of Geworin, sales volume is said to have increased slightly last month due to the issue of side effects of vaccines. "We are pushing for Geworin Cooldown as a product to prepare for side effects of the vaccine," said a representative for Samjin. "It is true that sales have increased compared to the past." "In the case of Geworin Cooldown, the number of new businesses is increasing just after its release. "We understand the impact of this, the issue of side effects of vaccines, and the result of marketing." An official from Dong-A said, "Panpyrin's sales have increased a little compared to last year," adding, "However, it is too much to blame only the issue of side effects of vaccines." "It's Acetaminophen, but it's more widely known as a cold medicine than a pain reliever. "In case of PENZAL, there is little change in sales compared to the past," said a representative for Chong Kun Dang. "There is a possibility that sales will increase as the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 increases."
- InterView
- IQVIA provides a total solution based on big data
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 20, 2021 05:41pm
- CEO Jeong Su-Yong IQVIA(CRO Quintiles & IMS Healths) is much bigger than before. In addition to simply providing clinical referral and sales data, IQVIA includes development, release, and subsequent marketing and Rx management. IQVIA Korea, a so-called 'Human Data Science Company', recently acquired CoreZetta, a sample big data analysis company of the HIRA, and MMK Communications, a healthcare marketing company, to upgrade the reliability and service area of the data. The number of executives and employees of Korean subsidiaries has already surpassed 780. Dailypharm met with CEO Jeong Su-Yong (48 yrs old), who has been leading IQVIA Korea since 2017, and heard about IQVIA's vision and strategy. - About five years have passed since the merger of Quintiles and IMS. What has been the change? The most noticeable change is the diversity of IQVIA customers. In the past, if it was a global clinical trial and market data and analysis business with multinational pharmaceutical companies, domestic pharmaceutical companies, biotech, investment companies such as medical devices and venture capital, consumer companies, private insurers, governments, hospitals, and wholesalers. Last year alone, it has expanded its ties with more than 100 companies as customers and partners. Specifically, the role of helping Korean customers globalize (strategies for overseas expansion, providing overseas market data and insights, supporting overseas clinical, commercialization, and selecting overseas partners) is growing. Companies that enter overseas markets need people by connecting overseas workers with a high understanding of the regulatory environment in overseas markets, and it supports related consulting and advice services. - It is also notable that it has acquired two domestic companies. As far as I know, it was led by a Korean corporation. Yes, IQVIA's Korean subsidiary is continuing its efforts to specialize in the domestic market. First, CoreZetta is a company that analyzes data from the HIRA. The HIRA's data are assets of our country with the NHIS system, but it is important how they can be analyzed and shown well. The cycle is slow and limited, and if it is supplemented with the advantages of IQVIA data, it will be possible to create new insights. Last month, it acquired MMK Communications, which provides medical communication and marketing, digital detailing, and nurse counseling services. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the need for digital detailing has increased and the importance of medical information contents has increased. It is trying to develop the data that doctors need and provide major contents in accordance with the Korean regulatory situation. IQVIA is a total healthcare solution company. -Due to the nature of acquisition companies, services to attract domestic customers are drawing attention. Recently, interest in the domestic biopharmaceutical industry has been increasing, how is it viewed by global consulting firms? I think we should look at it from an overall infrastructure perspective rather than from a technical or scientific perspective. It is possible and necessary to grow a step in line with the capital market's interest in the pharmaceutical bio market and the size of investment. This requires the technological superiority of individual companies, the establishment of an ecosystem for feasible growth, or globalization as much as the performance of each project. Domestic biotech and venture companies grow through investment, and IPO is almost the only way to recover investment in Korea. That is why there is a limit to the recovery market. I think there is a limit to growth in the domestic market alone. It is also important to have a competitive pharmaceutical company that can lead large projects. This seems to require a large merger within the pharmaceutical bio industry. Cases of expansion in overseas markets such as Celltrion's acquisition of Takeda and SK's acquisition of global CMO will have positive results. - Are you trying to combine 'big data' with diversified services? The importance of big data is essential for the development of healthcare industries. Clinical trials are essential for the pharmaceutical industry, but they have to take huge amounts of capital and high risks. However, we expect Real World Data to be able to convert substantially efficiently. South Korea's pharmaceutical industry still lacks large capital capacity. I think data is the driving force behind the growth of these conditions. If it wisely uses it while dispeling concerns about personal information leakage, IQVIA can do this, thinking it could be a big opportunity for the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. In addition to managing the risk of data, it is necessary to balance and develop the benefits that real data can give.
