Hanmi Pharmaceutical said Wednesday that the company has relaunched its liver function-enhancing OTC drug, "Silyman Soft Capsule 140" (Silyman), after sharply increasing its internal resorption rate.

Silyman is a product that dramatically increases the absorption rate of conventional silymarin preparations that have proven hepatocellular protective efficacy. However, silymarin, a component that does not dissolve well in water, had a low absorption rate during oral administration, so the proportion of the drug entering the body’s circulation remained at about 20 to 40 percent.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical applied its microemulsion technology called self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). Additionally, it placed 80 percent of silymarin, which contains the active ingredient milk thistle, into a single Silyman capsule.

Hanmi’s microemulsion technology can sharply increase the bioavailability (absorption rate) compared to available hard capsules by finely dividing particles of the substance. Consequently, the company said that Silyman's bioavailability was more than doubled compared to conventional hard capsules.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has released Silyman in two forms -- the 100-capsule standard that users can store and take at home or office and the pouch packaging (1 capsule X 100ea) -- to enhance the convenience of consumers.

"As various gatherings increase due to relaxed social distancing policy, interests in liver health management are also growing,” a company official said. “Silyman has significantly increased the absorption rate of silymarin, which has been confirmed to be effective in liver cell protection and liver function improvement."

Consumers can get the medicine at pharmacies nationwide.