Innovative epilepsy drug achieved US sales of 78.2 billion won last year
Target to more than double sales this year
[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Kyung-min = SK Biopharmaceuticals announced on the 8th that it achieved sales of 418.6 billion won and operating profit of 95.3 billion won in 2021 based on consolidated financial statements.
The annual sales of ‘Cenobamate’, an innovative epilepsy drug, increased more than 16 times compared to the previous year, thanks to the growth of US sales, the receipt of milestones according to European approval, export of technology to China and establishment of a local subsidiary, and export of technology to Canada. recorded
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Cenobamate completed its entry into the four global markets last year: the US, Europe, Japan, and China. Through direct sales in the United States, partnerships in Europe and Japan, and establishment of local subsidiaries in China, it is enhancing product competitiveness by implementing customized strategies for each region.
SK Biopharmaceuticals plans to continue qualitative growth while continuing its upward trend in major markets such as the United States and Europe, while actively exporting technology to various regions, including South America, to promote quantitative growth.
The US sales of Cenobamate last year reached 78.2 billion won, a six-fold increase from the previous year. In particular, in the fourth quarter, sales of 27.9 billion won, a nearly four-fold increase compared to the same period of the previous year, and the number of prescriptions showed a sharp rise, far exceeding the figure 20 months after the release of competing drugs released over the past 10 years. Cenobamate is aiming to double sales this year compared to the previous year.
SK Life Sciences, the US subsidiary of SK Biopharmaceuticals, is conducting omnidirectional marketing based on the complete seizure relief rate, which is the biggest advantage of cenobamate. In collaboration with ‘CURE Epilepsy’, a non-profit foundation related to epilepsy research funding, it is taking the lead in improving disease awareness. Recently, by expanding social media campaigns, networking with patients and caregivers is also being strengthened.
Countries launched in Europe are also expected to continue to expand. Partner Angelini Pharma has launched products sequentially in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the UK since June last year. In the future, it plans to release it in major countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, which are countries with European Free Trade Agreements.
SK Biopharmaceuticals is currently conducting phase 3 clinical trials in China, Japan, and Korea for the release of Cenobamate in Asia. In addition, it aims to launch in Canada through its partner Endo Group in 2024.
In addition to market expansion, SK Biopharmaceuticals is also concentrating on global R&D investment. Lennox-Gasto syndrome treatment ‘Carisbamate’ started global phase 3 clinical trials in January, and SK Biopharmaceuticals’ first targeted anticancer drug ‘SKL27969’ also obtained IND approval in the same month and entered phase 1 clinical trials in the US. did.
SK Biopharmaceuticals recently entered into a new biopharmaceutical development contract by signing a miRNA joint research contract. SK Biopharmaceuticals plans to continue to collaborate with domestic and foreign companies with promising technologies to improve R&D productivity and efficiency of innovative new drugs.
Furthermore, SK Biopharmaceuticals is seeking business expansion into the digital healthcare field by developing epilepsy detection and prediction devices and reviewing investments in related companies.
kmkim@newspim.com
