Zydena®, Erectile Dysfunction Treatment, Launched in the Middle East

Dong-A Pharmaceutical (CEO and President Kim, Won-Bae) announced that its domestic erectile dysfunction medicine Zydena® would advance into the Middle East (Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), that is, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar) following the signing of an export contract worth USD 30 million with SCP of Saudi Arabia recently. Zydena® is a new Korean drug developed for the fourth of its kind in the world in December 2007 after a nine-year research to improve the side effects of the existing erectile dysfunction drugs based on 100 percent domestic technologies. Its efficacy has been highly recognized recording the market share of 20.1% against its sales volume only within six months from its launch. New drugs domestically developed so far have been subject to criticism due to “lack of marketability” and “mere domestic use,” and overseas advancement has been mainly led by technological export. It has been a rarity for a domestic brand of a new drug to compete with world-class pharmaceutical companies abroad. This contract is even more spotlighted as the domestic brand is to compete with Viagra, Cialis and Levitra not in Korea but abroad. Saudi Arabia boasting its unique culture of one family, multiple wives is home to 75% of the Middle Eastern pharmaceutical market. The market size of erectile dysfunction medicine is projected to be around KRW 61 billion and is growing over 10% annually. Moreover, its high marketability and fierce competition over it are showcased by the fact that erectile dysfunction drugs rank third (Viagra: ingredient of sildenafil) and sixth (Snafi: ingredient of Tadalafil) among the total pharmaceutical sales. Dr. Kim, Sae-Chul, president of the Korean Urological Association and professor of urology at Chung Ang University, said, “That a domestically developed new drug is to compete with its foreign counterparts abroad boasting its domestic brand is a fruitful byproduct of consistent R&D of the pharmaceutical company despite enormous challenges. Moreover, it is greatly significant to the enhancement of the pharmaceutical industry, attesting to the fact that domestic pharmaceutical technologies are more and more globalized.” He added, “In particular, the Korean market share of Zydena®, the fourth of its kind in the world, is rising thanks to low side effects and high efficacy. It will be strongly competitive as the lasting time is over 12 hours.” The word, Zydena®, in Korean means “Does it work now? (pronounced, “zaldeutna”)” while its Middle Eastern interpretation is “Give me more” (as it is pronounced “zitdena”), hopefully very much relatable to the consumers there. Currently, the US FDA’s phase II clinical trial on Zydena® has been smoothly completed, following data analysis underway. Meanwhile, its patents have already been registered in 30 countries or so, and this Middle East entry will initiate further advancement into Southeastern Asia and Latin America. # # # About Dong-A Pharmaceutical Dong-A is Korea’s leading pharmaceutical company. Based on its corporate philosophy that the greatest value is life, Dong-A strives to be a responsible corporate citizen that contributes to the health and welfare of humankind. Over the past 42 years, Dong-A has maintained a reputation as a trustworthy producer of quality pharmaceutical products, and has risen to become the number one drug company in Korea. It is expanding its overseas presence on the strength of its new drug and biopharmaceutical products. Dong-A Socio Group includes Dong-A Otsuka, a beverage company, and Yongma Logis, a 3PL specialized company, and other subsidiaries.

The release as fetched from its publisher. donga-st.com ↗