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3 clusters · 10 sources · 16 days · First seen · Last updated

Hanmi Pharmaceutical obesity drug Epe/Effe launch

Overview

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is preparing to launch ‘Epe’ (also referred to as ‘Effe’), a domestically developed GLP-1 class obesity medication in South Korea. Having received approval as the country’s 45th new drug from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the treatment is expected to compete with international drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro through potentially lower pricing and a domestic production process.

Clinical trials involving 448 Korean patients showed an average weight reduction of 9.75% over 40 weeks, with some participants losing up to 30%. While its efficacy may be lower than some global competitors, the drug is noted for potentially fewer gastrointestinal side effects due to a stepwise dosage increase method. The medication, which uses the ingredient epeglenatide, is produced at the company’s Pyeongtaek Bio Plant using its proprietary ‘LAPSCOVERY’ platform technology.

Following its approval, Hanmi Pharmaceutical issued a safety guide, advising patients to consult medical professionals regarding underlying health conditions and concurrent medications.

Prescribing for Effe is scheduled to begin on October 29. The weekly subcutaneous injection is expected to compete aggressively on price; the initial four-week supply for the lowest dose is approximately 130,000 KRW, which is significantly lower than the 200,000+ KRW range of its competitors. Hanmi Pharmaceutical projects annual sales for the drug could reach between 150 billion and 200 billion KRW by 2027.

Entities

Hanmi Pharmaceutical · Novo Nordisk · Eli Lilly · Ministry of Food and Drug Safety · EPE

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Hanmi Pharmaceutical to launch domestic obesity drug Effe

    Hanmi Pharmaceutical will begin prescribing Effe, South Korea's first domestic GLP-1 obesity drug, on October 29, offering a lower-cost alternative to Wegovy and Mounjaro.

  2. [HEALTH] 5 sources
    Hanmi Pharmaceutical issues safety guide for obesity drug Epe

    Hanmi Pharmaceutical has released safety guidelines for its newly approved GLP-1 obesity treatment, ‘Epe,’ urging patients to consult medical professionals and use accurate product information.

  3. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Hanmi Pharmaceutical to launch domestic obesity drug Epe

    Hanmi Pharmaceutical plans to launch Epe, a domestic GLP-1 obesity drug, to compete with Wegovy and Mounjaro in South Korea, potentially offering lower costs and localized production.

Sources

biz.heraldcorp.com · bosa.co.kr · healthfocus.co.kr · hin.company · jnilbo.com · joseilbo.com · kormedi.com · socialvalue.kr · techholic.co.kr · thebionews.net

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history