Ildong Pharmaceuticals said Thursday that it has signed a sales agreement with Novartis to market Famvir (Ingredient: palmyclovir), a shingles treatment.

Famvir

The drug is used to treat shingles infection, genital herpes zoster infection and inhibit genital herpes from recurring.

Under the agreement, Novartis plans to transfer its domestic license for Famvir to Ildong by the end of this year. The company also plans to transfer technology to Ildong shortly so that it can produce and market the drug on its own.

According to IMS Health, the drug has the largest share in the palmyclovir market, which is the most widely used oral treatment for shingles in Korea. In 2016, the drug recorded a sale of 6.2 billion won ($5.8 million).

“Famvir is not only the original drug but also the number one brand in the palmyclovir market,” a company official said. “The drug has also accumulated numerous data from clinical trials and real-life use.”

The company plans to expand its lineup of skin and urinary-related products with the launch of Famvir and accelerate its market penetration in the field, he added.

corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr

<© Korea Biomedical Review, All rights reserved.>