SK Plasma to Handle Distribution and Sales of Janssen Anticancer Drug 'Dacogen'

Chae-ri Hwang, CEO of Korea Janssen (left), and Seung-joo Kim, CEO of SK Plasma, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the exclusive domestic sales contract for Dakogenju.
[Photo by SK Plasma]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] SK Plasma announced on the 13th that it has signed an exclusive domestic sales agreement with Korea Janssen for 'Dacogen Injection (active ingredient Decitabine),' a treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. The signing ceremony was attended by SK Plasma CEO Seungjoo Kim and Korea Janssen CEO Cherry Huang.

Under this agreement, SK Plasma will be responsible for the domestic distribution and marketing of Dacogen Injection, while Korea Janssen will handle the production and supply of the product. Dacogen Injection is an intravenous (IV) anticancer drug used for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a type of blood cancer originating in the bone marrow, characterized by abnormal blood cell formation in the marrow and a decrease in normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in peripheral blood. Acute myeloid leukemia is a type of leukemia in which immature white blood cells called myeloblasts appear in large quantities in the bone marrow and blood, and it is an acute disease with a poor prognosis, especially in elderly patients.

Dacogen Injection has had its reimbursement criteria newly applied for myelodysplastic syndrome since 2008, and the reimbursement criteria have been expanded twice, in 2013 and this year, to include patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Seungjoo Kim, CEO of SK Plasma, said, "This agreement has further strengthened our portfolio as a pharmaceutical company specializing in rare and intractable diseases," adding, "We will continue to strengthen our product lineup related to rare and intractable diseases to contribute to the treatment and quality of life improvement of rare disease patients in Korea."