Announcing the manufacturing of new drugs and drug R&D progress, and 41 phase 1-3 phase products

On April 10, the Korea Drug Development Association announced in a release on the domestic R&D progress of major new drugs, “As of January 31, 36 pharmaceutical manufacturers released new drugs or began their development, with the number of the products amounting to 124 (including pre-clinical drugs).”

By pharmaceutical manufacturer, SK chemicals developed or is developing eleven items, the largest number, followed by Dong-A Pharmaceutical with 10, Ildong Pharmaceuticals, Dongwha Pharmaceutical and Jeil Pharmaceutical with more than 7 each, Green Cross, Yuhan, Yuyu and SK Corp. with more than 5 each, Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Binex with more than 4 each, and Daewon Pharm with 3. 

Eight products have been approved and released, including Joins (SK chemicals), Q-roxin (Choonwae Pharm), Stillen (Dong-A Pharmaceutical), Factive (LG Life Science), Camtobell Inj. (Chong Kun Dang Pharm), Maxmarvil (Yuyu), Zydena (Dong-A), and Levovir (Bukwang Pharm).

Three drugs including Sunpla (SK chemicals), Easyef soln (Daewoong Pharmaceutical), and Milican (Dongwha) are undergoing three-phase clinical tests, a prerequisite for their public release. The sale of the three products including Revanex (Yuhan), Metgreen SR (Green Cross), and Aquafol (Daewon) has been approved.

41 other new drugs are undergoing 1-3 phase clinical tests, while 69 are undergoing pre-clinical tests. Two drugs which have completed a 3-phase clinical test and are awaiting release include the erectile dysfunction drug M-vix (SK chemicals), and the hemophilia drug Greenjin (Green Cross).

Also undergoing a 3-phase clinical test are rhPTH (Green Croos), a drug designed to promote bone mineral density, the bone arthritis drug Felubiprofen (Daewon), the asthma drug AG1321001(Ahn Gook Pharm), the ischemic stroke drug YY-280 (Yuyu), the gastric ulcer drug IY-81149 (Ilyang Pharmaceutical), and the epilepsy drug YKP509 (SK chemicals).

In addition, two other drugs - Binex’s lung cancer cell drug DC-Vac/EP-L and the large intestine cancer cell drug DC-Vac/IR - have undergone a 2-phase clinical test.

Fifteen more drugs are undergoing a 2-phase clinical test, including the dementia drug PCB (SK chemicals), the arthritis drug Shinbaro EX (Green Cross), the inflammatory intestine drug DA-6034 (Dong-A), the atopic dermatitis drug DA9102 (Dong-A), the skin cancer drug DW167 (Dongwha), the breast cancer cell drug DC-Vac/EP-B (Binex), the gastrointestinal cancer cell drug TKCell (Binex), the hypertension drug BR-A-657 (Boryung), the immune anti-cancer drug β-Immunan (Ilyang), the B-type hepatitis drug LB80380 (LG Life Science), the liver disease drug LB84451(LG Life Science), and the anti-malaria drug PYRAMAX (Shinpoong).

A further 16 products are currently entering a 1-phase clinical test, including pharmaceutical treatments for cancer, osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, antibacterial, and asthma, while 46 items yet to begin clinical testing are being studied for their new material components.

Lee Bong-yong, the director of SK chemicals’ Life Science Research Center, said, “Since we have invested the country’s largest sum of money (15% of our sales annually) in developing new drugs which offer high global competitiveness, we expect to reap the fruits early on. We ask for your interest in and support of our new drugs.”