LG Chem to launch new diabetes combination drug Zemidapa

South Korean chemical company LG Chem Ltd. has announced the release of a new diabetes combination drug, Zemidapa Tab, set to launch on Apr. 8. The drug is based on the active ingredient gemigliptin, known as Zemiglo, and dapagliflozin, both leading products in their respective markets of DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Zemidapa Tab combines these two active ingredients and is expected to be a useful combination therapy option, as it combines the representative ingredients of each class.

It is the only drug that combines these two active ingredients. Zemidapa Tab will also be prescribed to patients who are not adequately controlling their blood sugar with metformin and SGLT-2 inhibitors. It is expected that Zemidapa Tab will be available for prescription coverage under the national health insurance system from May 1.

In a clinical trial involving 784 Korean patients, the three-drug combination therapy of Zemiglo, metformin and dapagliflozin showed a greater improvement in blood sugar levels compared to the two-drug therapy of metformin and dapagliflozin or metformin and Zemiglo.

Since the launch of Korea's first diabetes drug, Zemiglo, in 2012, LG Chem has led the diabetes market by releasing combination drugs based on gemigliptin, such as Zemimet and Zemilow.

According to statistics from Ubist, Zemiglo product sales reached 133 billion won ($115 million) last year, and it showed a high market share of 22% in the DPP-4 inhibitor market with nine products.

Write to Ji-Hyun Lee at bluesky@hankyung.com