Daewoong Pharmaceuticals_대웅제약 (CEO Lee Jong-wook_이종욱) has launched Centelight to treat venous insufficiency, and is planning to expand the market for venous disease-related therapies, the company said Friday.

Venous insufficiency is a condition where the flow of blood through the veins is inadequate, causing blood to pool in the legs. Its causes are various such as working in the same posture for a long time, wearing skinny jeans, pregnancy, and obesity. Symptoms of venous insufficiency include swelling of the legs or ankles, aching, throbbing, varicose veins, and leg ulcers.

Centelight’s main ingredient is Centella extract, from the herb Centella Asiatica, which increases the synthesis of collagen to strengthen the elasticity of the intravenous wall. It also improves the permeability of the capillaries to improve symptoms such as swelling of the legs and leg ulcers. It protects the cells by antioxidant action and alleviates the inflammation.

According to the National Health Insurance Service’s data, the number of patients with varicose veins increased from 164,000 in 2010 to 192,000 in 2015, and the venous disease treatment market was 11 billion won ($9 million) in 2016.

"People who work in the same position for a long time and who are obese are vulnerable venous circulation disorders such as varicose veins, as well as the complaints such as skin ulcers,” said Park Hae-mee_박혜미, product manager of Daewoong.

With the launch of Centelight, patients will be able to improve the quality of life by improving the treatments of venous diseases more conveniently, she added.