SK Chemicals Osteoarthritis Drug "Joins" Reaches 700 Billion Won in Cumulative Sales

Prescribed an average of over 80 million tablets annually for 23 years

SK Chemicals announced on the 26th that cumulative sales of its osteoarthritis treatment “Joins” have reached 700 billion won since its launch.

Joins has been prescribed for the relief of osteoarthritis symptoms in Korea for 23 years since its domestic launch in 2002. Cumulative sales volume stands at approximately 1.9 billion tablets, meaning that more than 80 million tablets have been prescribed per year on average. Given that there were about 4.33 million osteoarthritis patients in Korea as of 2023, this is a volume sufficient for more than 400 tablets per patient.

The achievement of 700 billion won in cumulative sales came two years after cumulative sales reached 600 billion won in 2024. According to pharmaceutical market research firm Ubist, annual sales were 45.4 billion won in 2021, 47.2 billion won in 2022, 48.3 billion won in 2023, 53.2 billion won in 2024, and 59.5 billion won in 2025, with an average of about 50.7 billion won over the past five years.

SK Chemicals cited long-accumulated clinical evidence and extensive real-world prescribing experience, which have translated into trust in medical settings, as key growth drivers. In an environment where the number of osteoarthritis patients continues to rise due to population aging, the characteristics of Sisadoa-class treatments, which are intended for long-term administration, are said to have aligned with market expansion. The company plans to diversify its product lineup, including the launch of high-dose formulations that improve dosing convenience.

Joins is a natural-product drug whose main active ingredients are three herbal extracts: Wilfordi root, Trichosanthes root, and Self-heal spike. In osteoarthritis treatment, it belongs to the Sisadoa class and is used to relieve symptoms and improve function through anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective effects. Unlike treatments focused on short-term pain relief, it is characterized by its use for long-term symptom management.