inno.N

December 12, 2024
 

HK inno.N’s K-CAB, new drug for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) treatment, launched in 6 additional Latin American countries    

Product launch in 6 countries including ▲Dominican Republic ▲Nicaragua ▲Honduras … K-CAB now available in 15 countries worldwide

Ranked 3rd in the Mexican market within a year of its launch… market share of 10% in sight

 

HK inno.N announced on 12 December that K-CAB (tegoprazan) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), was launched in six additional Central and South American countries.

The six countries in the region with the recent product launch of K-CAB are ▲Dominican Republic ▲Nicaragua ▲Honduras ▲Guatemala ▲El Salvador ▲Colombia. K-CAB already obtained the marketing authorization under the local product name "Ki-CAB" in September.

K-CAB’s bold strides of market expansion in Latin America include 18 countries, either in the form of exporting finished products or technology export. Following its launch in Mexico and Peru last year, the product was released in Chile in the second half of this year and is now launched in 6 more countries in the continent, establishing its market presence across 9 countries of Latin America at a remarkable pace.

Carnot, HK inno.N's partner that signed a contract with HK inno.N for exporting and distribution of K-CAB to 17 Latin American countries excluding Brazil, has been active in its marketing campaigns to lead the market growth of K-CAB (the local product name "Ki-CAB.") in the Central and South American markets.

As part of the partnership, HK inno.N and Carnot have jointly hosted an academic conference for medical specialists in South Korea and Latin America since the last year. In October this year, a symposium was held in Bogota, Colombia, in celebration of K-CAB’s launch in the country. A number of eminent gastroenterologists from the Americas attended the event, gave presentations, and had lively discussions on the clinical benefits of K-CAB and the areas where it can be used as a new treatment option.  

Dr David A. Peura, an emeritus professor in gastroenterology at University of Verginia, Charlottesville, the U.S., presented in his lecture at the Colombia symposium, “K-CAB should be considered as an option for all cases of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy requiring acid suppression.” Dr. Marcelo Vela of the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. reported, “K-CAB has a faster onset of action in suppressing gastric acid than other potassium competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) and has greater benefits than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of GERD in patients with moderate to severe reflux esophagitis (LA grade B/C/D).”

An official from Carnot stated, "K-CAB landed on its position as the top 3 peptic ulcer medicines in Mexico within a year from its launch and is close to achieving the 10% market share," and added, " the rapid pace of growth of K-CAB has had a positive impact on the Latin American market, and medical specialists in other countries in the continent where K-CAM has not been introduced yet have expressed great interest and expectations. 

HK inno.N’s CEO Dalwon Kwak commented, “K-CAB has quickly gained prominence in the Central and South American market, and our efforts to promote the value of the Korean new drug in the global peptic ulcer market will continue to expand, beyond Latin America.”

K-CAB, the 30th new drug of South Korea, is a P-CAB class new drug for GERD treatment. It is characterized by rapid onset of action within one hour after administration and proven efficacy and safety even with long-term use for up to six months. Recently, the Mexican Association of Gastroenterology (the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología) published a guideline recommending P-CAB class drugs from the early stage in the treatment course of GERD, which is expected to further increase the influence of K-CAB in the market of peptic ulcer medications in Central and South America.

Following its first launch in South Korea, K-CAB succeeded in the market entry to a total of 46 countries worldwide, including the U.S. and China. The product has been officially released in 15 countries to date, demonstrating its growing global market presence. K-CAB recorded a total outpatient prescription sales of KRW 177.7 billion from January to November for this year alone in South Korea. The product has been the steady No. 1 market leader in peptic ulcer medications for four consecutive years since its launch. [The End]

[Reference information]

■ P-CAB: Potassium Competitive Acid Blocker

■ PPI: Proton Pump Inhibitor

■ The Mexican Association of Gastroenterology: Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología

■ Overview of K-CAB’s market presence worldwide (46 countries in total): 

- South Korea, China, Mongolia, India, South Africa, the U.S, Canada

- 6 Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia

- 5 Eastern European countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus

- 10 Middle Eastern/North African countries

- 18 Central and South American countries (see below)

■ K-CAB’s market entry to Central and South America includes the following 18 countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador (Of these, Carnot is an exporter for 17 countries, which excludes Brazil).

■ Overview of K-CAB’s market presence in Central and South America

- Technology transfer (1 country): Brazil

- Product release (9 countries): Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.