Ten generics of Takeda Pharmaceutical’s diabetes adjunct therapy Actos met (ingredient: metformin hydrochloride, pioglitazone hydrochloride) are about to hit the domestic market with the termination of a priority sales right of KyungDong Pharm’s Pictomin generic.

KyungDong obtained a priority sales right for Pictomin that lasted nine months from Sept. 7, 2017, to June 30, 2018, after successfully avoiding an Actos met patent. The sales right blocked the early launch of competing generics.

Actos met

Actos met is a class of biguanides and thiazolidinediones (TZD), also known as glitazones, which combines metformin hydrochloride and pioglitazone hydrochloride. The therapy, approved in February 2008, is administered as an adjunct therapy to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes patients.

According to Medipana, the only other TZD class diabetes therapy on the market were Chong Kun Dang’s Duvie (ingredient: lobeglitazone sulfate) and Duvimet XR (ingredient: lobeglitazone sulfate, metformin hydrochloride). The two therapies recorded 5 billion won ($4.4 million) in annual sales.

Pictomin followed Chong Kun Dang’s lead, recording annual sales of 60 to 70 million won ($54,770 to $62,740), according to media reports.

The launches of additional generics are expected to raise the competition in the biguanides, and TZD combination therapy market, which was shared by Actos met, Duvie, and Pictomin.

The 10 will be released with reimbursement in July. Although the generics avoided the Actos met patent with KyungDong Pharm, they were not able to get a priority sales right, leading to the delayed launch.

The 10 are Glezonemet developed by Samjin Pharm, K-Tosmet by Kolmar Korea, Piolidonmet by Hutecs, Pioformin by Ilhwa, Piota-M by Korus Pharm, Piosmet by Korea Global Pharm, Pioglupa by Dalim Biotech, Pionminmet by Korea Prime Pharm, Diaduo by Kolmar Pharma, and Nextosmet by NexPharm Korea.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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