Celltrion Pharm, Alzheimer's Dementia Treatment 'Donerion Patch' Launches Domestic Sales

Celltrion Pharm Alzheimer's Dementia Treatment 'Donerion Patch'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] CELLTRION PHARM announced on the 1st that its Alzheimer's dementia treatment drug, Donerion Patch (active ingredient donepezil), will officially begin domestic sales procedures starting with the insurance drug price announcement.

Donerion Patch obtained product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in November last year, and last month, the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee under the Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to apply health insurance coverage. Accordingly, health insurance coverage began from this day based on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's drug reimbursement price announcement (No. 2022-180).

Unlike the existing oral medication taken once daily, Donerion Patch is the world's first donepezil patch designed to improve medication adherence for dementia patients and provide convenience to caregivers by being applied twice weekly. The drug is absorbed slowly through the skin rather than rapidly through the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in lower fluctuations in blood drug concentration and enabling stable long-term administration. It also helps maintain normal levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, aiding cognitive function improvement and slowing the progression of dementia.

Donerion Patch secured efficacy through phase 3 clinical trials involving approximately 400 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia in four countries: Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and Malaysia. In particular, it demonstrated non-inferiority to oral donepezil in the ADAS-cog (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale?Cognitive Subscale) evaluation, a representative standard tool that assesses memory, language, praxis, behavior, and orientation in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia.

According to market research firm Ubist, donepezil accounts for about 80% of the approximately 330 billion KRW domestic market sales of Alzheimer's dementia treatments last year, representing a market size of about 260 billion KRW. The domestic dementia treatment market is expected to continue its steady growth and accelerate, further increasing the market size.

The newly launched products in Korea are priced at 1,187 KRW for Donerion Patch 87.5 mg/25 cm² and 1,736 KRW for Donerion Patch 175 mg/50 cm² per day, which is about 10% cheaper than the average price of existing treatments.

A CELLTRION PHARM official stated, “Donerion Patch will quickly increase its market share by emphasizing its advantages in medication adherence and convenience, as much as its efficacy and effectiveness, in the Alzheimer's dementia treatment market. We will do our best in all aspects, including product supply, so that Alzheimer's dementia patients and their families can benefit from this new treatment option.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.