LG Chem's 'Gemiglo' Surpasses 1 Trillion KRW in Cumulative Sales, First Domestic Diabetes Drug to Achieve This Milestone

Continuous Growth for 11 Consecutive Years Since Launch in December 2012

The cumulative sales of 'Gemiglo,' the first domestically developed type 2 diabetes treatment drug in Korea, have surpassed 1 trillion won.

Diabetes medication Gemiglo product line. LG Chem

On the 17th, LG Chem announced that the total outpatient prescription amount for the 'Gemiglo' product line (Gemiglo, Gemimet, Gemidapa, Gemilow) from December 2012 to December 2024 reached 1.0659 trillion won. Gemiglo is the first Korean diabetes drug brand to exceed 1 trillion won in sales. It has grown continuously for 11 consecutive years since its launch, with an average annual growth rate of 35%.

LG Chem challenged domestic localization for the first time in 2003 in the diabetes market dominated by foreign pharmaceutical products and succeeded in developing a new drug in 2012. It took 10 years to rise to the top in the domestic diabetes market worth 1 trillion won. In 2023, it reached the top market share for the first time, and in 2024, it recorded sales of 153 billion won, a 6% increase from the previous year, showing steady growth. Currently, it is known that more than 500,000 diabetes patients are taking the Gemiglo product line.

Since the start of development, LG Chem has invested a total of 150 billion won over more than 20 years to accumulate clinical evidence, building high customer trust in the product's efficacy and safety. To secure Gemiglo's differentiated competitiveness, more than 40 studies have been conducted, with approximately 13,000 participants involved.

Additionally, LG Chem has alleviated patients' drug cost burdens by expanding the combination drug business based on Gemiglo, including Gemimet, Gemidapa, and Gemilow, indirectly contributing to health insurance financial management. For example, as of March 2025, the price of 'Gemidapa' is up to 25% lower than the combined price of each single ingredient drug with the same components.

Sohn Ji-woong, head of LG Chem's Life Sciences Business Division, said, "The reason why tens of thousands of diabetes patients receive treatment with Gemiglo products every day is thanks to the strong trust customers have in the product and the company. We will continue to focus on new drug research and development to develop medicines that can provide a better life for patients."

Meanwhile, in December 2024, LG Chem introduced 'Glucophage Tablets,' a first-line diabetes treatment drug, from Korea Merck Biopharma, providing a wide range of treatment options applicable from early diabetes patients to those in triple combination therapy stages.

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