Yuhan Corporation Expands Global New Drug Distribution... Targeting the Skin Disease Market with Rhapsido

[Financial News] Yuhan Corporation is partnering with Novartis Korea to expand its business scope in the market for skin and immune disease treatments. The strategy is to target the market for chronic spontaneous urticaria treatments by combining Novartis Korea's new drug with Yuhan Corporation's sales and distribution network, which spans hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Yuhan Corporation announced on the 7th that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Novartis Korea for the domestic distribution, sales, and promotion of 'Rhapsido (active ingredient: remibrutinib),' a treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Under this agreement, Yuhan Corporation will be responsible for the domestic distribution of Rhapsido. Sales and marketing will be shared between the two companies. Novartis Korea will focus on general hospitals, while Yuhan Corporation will handle sales and marketing primarily to clinics and hospitals.
Rhapsido is an oral inhibitor that targets Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). BTK is a protein involved in immune responses, such as the activation of mast cells and basophils, which are types of immune cells. Rhapsido works by selectively inhibiting BTK to reduce the release of inflammatory mediators. Novartis Korea currently lists Rhapsido 25 mg tablets as a domestic product.
While conventional antihistamines control symptoms by blocking already secreted histamine from acting on receptors, Rhapsido differs in that it is a treatment option that intervenes in the activation process of mast cells and basophils itself.
Last April, Rhapsido received domestic approval as a treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults whose symptoms are not adequately controlled even with antihistamine treatment. Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a condition in which itching, swelling, and angioedema recur as mast cells and other cells become activated, even without the identification of a specific external cause.
Domestic approval was based on the results of the global Phase 3 clinical trials, 'REMIX-1' and 'REMIX-2'. In both studies, Rhapsido significantly improved the weekly urticaria activity (UAS7) score at week 12 compared to placebo. The effect was maintained up to week 24, and long-term analysis also showed that symptoms of itching and swelling improved from the beginning of administration and the effect persisted. Novartis Korea previously announced that symptom improvement was observed from week 1 of administration in the combined analysis of REMIX-1 and REMIX-2.
Yuhan Corporation plans to leverage its nationwide distribution network and sales and marketing capabilities to enhance Rhapsido's accessibility to the hospital and clinic market. Both companies also plan to conduct activities to raise awareness of chronic spontaneous urticaria among medical professionals and patients.
"We will effectively deliver the value of Rhapsido to medical professionals and patients based on Yuhan Corporation's sales and marketing capabilities and nationwide distribution network," said Cho Wook-je, CEO of Yuhan Corporation.
Yoo Byung-jae, CEO of Novartis Korea, stated, "We expect to be able to get closer to patients who need Rhapsido through our collaboration with Yuhan Corporation, which possesses experience and understanding of the dermatological treatment field in private clinics."
[email protected] Jeong Sang-hee Reporter