● SK chemicals Signs Sales Agreement for Alzheimer＇s Drug "Reminyl" with Janssen
- Aims squarely at $180 mil. AChEI-based Alzheimer＇s drug market
- SK chemicals to focus on sales and marketing in domestic hospitalsSK chemicals has strengthened its Alzheimer＇s disease treatment portfolio.
The company said on February 12 that it signed a deal with Janssen Korea to sell the latter＇s Alzheimer＇s medicine Reminyl (Galantamine) within the Korean market.
Under the terms of the agreement, SK chemicals will be responsible for domestic sales and distribution of Reminyl while Janssen Korea is in charge of its production.
Reminyl is a capsule-like acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) with proven efficacy in improving cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer＇s disease by inhibiting the hydrolysis process of acetylcholine.
Unlike other products that inhibit acetylcholine hydrolysis only, Reminyl increases acetylcholine secretion in the cerebrum＇s nicotinic receptor. An additional benefit of the drug is the relatively low incidence of sleep disorder, a major side effect of many Alzheimer＇s treatments.
Following the Wondron patch and Aldigm OD, the latest deal to market Reminyl gives SK chemicals three types of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
According to the drug market research firm Ubist, Korea＇s acetylcholinesterase inhibitor market last year was about 200 billion won (US$177 million), accounting for the largest portion in Alzheimer＇s disease treatment. Due to the rapidly aging trend, the number of patients with Alzheimer＇s disease is steadily on the rise.
Jeon Kwang-hyun, CEO of SK chemicals＇ Life Sciences Business, said, "The addition of the capsule-type Reminyl to the Wondron patch and Aldigm OD provides prescribing physicians with multiple treatment options to better meet the needs of the rapidly increasing number of Alzheimer＇s patients."
Earlier, the company developed the first generic of the Exelon patch (product name: Wondron), which has been marketed in 13 European countries since 2012.
# Photo Caption: SK chemicals＇ Life Sciences Business CEO Jeon Kwang-hyun (right) poses with Janssen Korea＇s CEO Jenny Zheng in a signing ceremony for the Alzheimer＇s drug Reminyl.