Pharma Firms in Korea Race to Lead Next Wave of Combination Drug Innovation (Image courtesy of Getty Image Bank/CCL)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean pharmaceutical companies are intensifying efforts to develop combination drugs — single pills that treat multiple conditions — as patient demand for convenience and cost efficiency rises.
Combination drugs contain two or more active ingredients, allowing patients to reduce pill intake and treatment expenses.
According to industry sources on Thursday, HK inno.N has begun developing a combination of its gastroesophageal reflux disease drug K-CAB (tegoprazan) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen. The company recently received Phase 1 clinical trial approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
NSAIDs are widely prescribed for musculoskeletal disorders but can cause gastrointestinal side effects when taken long-term. The new pill aims to help patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis who require stronger treatment while reducing the risk of NSAID-induced ulcers.
Korea United Pharm has also applied for Phase 3 clinical trials of UI060, a drug designed to simultaneously deliver pain relief and ulcer prevention. The company said it expects the therapy to lead the domestic market for NSAID-associated ulcer treatments once approved.
Meanwhile, Boryung is advancing a three-drug combination therapy for type 2 diabetes, conducting early-stage trials to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of several versions under the project name BR3006. As diabetes often requires multiple medications to control blood sugar, the field has become a major focus for combination therapy innovation.
Several combination drugs have already gained approval or reached the market this year. Chong Kun Dang’s Empamax S — which combines empagliflozin and sitagliptin — won local approval in April for type 2 diabetes treatment. Celltrion Pharm markets Amlozet, a triple therapy for hypertension and hyperlipidemia that blends amlodipine, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical has also exported Gugutams — the world’s first combination treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction, merging tamsulosin and tadalafil — to Mexico.
“Patient preference for combination drugs is growing rapidly, and competition among companies to develop them will only intensify,” said an industry official.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
