More and more South Korean biopharmaceutical companies come forward with improved drug delivery to enhance patient convenience in drug treatment that requires long-term administration, such as diabetes and orphan drugs.

LG Chem recently rolled out a two-in-one pill for type 2 diabetes patients. The new fixed dose combination product which contains two active ingredients for glycemic control is even 15 percent smaller than other combination therapies for diabetics.

DongA ST meanwhile reduced the size of its new combination oral drug which was launched in 2017.

Patients with Fabry disease, a rare inherited disorder, now have more treatment options with the development of a capsule for convenient oral administration of injectable drugs.

The lysosomal storage disease that is prevalent in one out of 117,000 individuals is characterized by the absent or deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme called α-galactosidase A.

Prior to the availability of this capsule formulation, patients with Fabry disease had to be given the enzyme intravenously every two weeks.

But the new capsule drug launched by Handok Pharm in July is orally taken once every two days, allowing patients to continue their everyday activity.

Since chronic or hereditary diseases usually require continuous treatment, and therefore it becomes increasingly important to develop new drugs to ensure more convenient treatment, said a Handok Pharm spokesperson.

By Seo Jin-woo and Minu Kim

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