SK Biopharm releases epilepsy treatment in UK

South Korean SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. launched its epilepsy treatment Cenobamate in the UK, rapidly expanding the company’s presence in Europe.

The UK is the fourth country in Europe for SK to sell the drug, which is available under the brand name Xcopri in the US, according to industry sources in South Korea on Dec. 20. The company released the medication used for the treatment of partial-onset epileptic seizures in Germany in June, as well as Denmark and Sweden in October.

The UK is the largest epilepsy treatment market in Europe with its size estimated at $388 million last year, higher than $374 million in Germany, according to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical research firm.

SK expects strong demand for Cenobamate in the UK since it is covered by health insurance, a company source said.

The company aims to extend the drug’s markets in Europe to Spain, France and Italy, the region’s top five epilepsy markets along with the UK and Germany. It also targets Northern Europe including Iceland and Norway.

Cenobamate has been selling well in the US since its launch in May 2020. The average number of monthly prescriptions rose 23% to 8,397 in the third quarter from the previous three months. The revenue from the drug surged to 19.9 billion won ($16.7 million) in the third quarter from 2.1 billion won in the second quarter of 2020 when the company released the medication in the US.

Cenobamate is the first drug that a South Korean company has developed on its own from candidate substances discovery to clinical trials, licensing and sales in America.

ASIA IS NEXT

SK took steps to commercialize the medicine in Asia where the drug is in phase 3 clinical trials in Asia.

Last month, it established Ignis Therapeutics in China, a central nervous system (CNS)-focused biotech joint venture with a group of investors led by 6 Dimensions Capital, a Shanghai-based global investment firm.

SK signed an agreement to out-license its six clinical compounds, including Cenobamate to Ignis Therapeutics for development and commercialization in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.

For Japan, SK signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co. for the Japanese company to develop and commercialize Cenobamate there in October last year.

“We will actively seek technology exports to the various regions to secure new growth engines,” said an SK source.

Write to Jae-young Han at jyhan@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.