HK Innoen "K-CAB Selected as Excellent Technology in Life Sciences by the National Academy of Engineering"

The Only One in the Field of Life Sciences

HK Innoen announced on the 7th that its new drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease, K-CAB, has been selected as an excellent technology in the life sciences field among the '2023 Industrial Technology Achievements' leading Korea's industry this year, as announced by the National Academy of Engineering of Korea.

All products of K-CAB, a new drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease by HK Innoen.
[Photo by HK Innoen]

The National Academy of Engineering of Korea is an academic research institution established to promote the advancement of engineering and technology. Since 2006, it has annually selected and announced outstanding technologies across various industries to share the latest technology and industrial trends. This year, a total of 14 technologies were selected as excellent in the fields of ▲Electrical & Electronics ▲Energy & Materials ▲Mobility ▲Construction & Environment ▲Life Sciences.

K-CAB was the only technology selected as excellent in the life sciences field. K-CAB is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) drug that overcomes the limitations of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which have been mainly used as conventional treatments. K-CAB was recognized as an excellent technology for contributing to reducing economic and industrial losses and promoting public health by improving patients' quality of life.

K-CAB offers advantages such as ▲rapid onset of action within 30 minutes of administration ▲excellent duration of efficacy ▲can be taken regardless of meal times ▲confirmed safety and efficacy even after long-term use for 6 months. Since its launch in 2019, the cumulative domestic prescription sales of K-CAB reached 350.3 billion KRW as of September this year, maintaining the number one position in the domestic gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment market for five consecutive years.

Efforts to expand globally are also accelerating. Following technology export contracts with major countries such as the United States and China, K-CAB has also entered Brazil and Mexico, the first and second largest countries in Latin America. Currently, it is available in 35 countries overseas, and Phase 3 clinical trials are underway in the United States.

K-CAB is pursuing strategies including clinical research, patent registration, and expansion of formulations and indications. There are about 80 ongoing or completed clinical studies on K-CAB, and over 50 papers have been published in prestigious domestic and international journals. Approximately 450 patents have been registered or are pending worldwide.

Research on indications is also actively progressing, with K-CAB holding the most indications among P-CAB class products in Korea. In terms of formulation, after tablets, an orally disintegrating tablet (formulation that dissolves in the mouth) was developed to improve dosing convenience, and an injectable formulation is being developed for emergency patients.

Kwok Dal-won, CEO of HK Innoen, said, "K-CAB is a concentrated embodiment of excellent Korean new drug research and development technology, and it is a product with even greater expectations for growth as a global blockbuster new drug. As a leader of the next-generation P-CAB class, we will contribute to enhancing patients' quality of life and strengthening Korea's new drug competitiveness through continuous research and development as well as diversification of formulations and dosages."

Meanwhile, the 14 selected industrial technology achievements of 2023 include ▲LG Electronics' ‘4K 120Hz Wireless OLED TV’ ▲Samsung Electronics' ‘World's First UFS4.0 High-Performance Mobile Storage Product’ ▲LG Chem's ‘UV Crosslinked Separator Technology for Enhancing Lithium Secondary Battery Safety’ ▲Hyundai Mobis' ‘Multi-Chamber Air Suspension System’ ▲Bugang Tech's ‘Korea's First Energy-Saving Nitrogen Removal Technology for Wastewater Treatment’ among others.