Handok said Monday that it signed a sales contract with Astellas Korea to sell the latter’s SGLT-2 inhibitor diabetes therapy Suglat in Korea. Handok will be in charge of domestic distribution, marketing, and sales.

Suglat, launched in Korea in 2015, was co-developed by Astellas Japan and Kotobuki Pharmaceutical and is the most prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitor in the neighboring country, Handok said.

“We are now able to offer a greater range of treatment options with the addition of Suglat to other diabetes therapies,” Handok Chairman Kim Young-jin said. “We will work to foster the growth of Suglat based on our experience of success and leadership as a total diabetes solution company.”

Astellas Korea CEO Takenoya Osamu also said, “Suglat is an SGLT-2 inhibitor class diabetes therapy that has an unrivaled market share within Japan, We believe Suglat will grow exponentially within Korea as Handok has the expertise and vast experience within the field of diabetes.”

Handok has been selling many drugs from AstraZeneca, including Amaryl and Tenelia, the company said.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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