SK Plasma and Hyundai Pharmaceuticals announced on Monday that they signed domestic sales and distribution agreements with Janssen Korea for Dacogen (ingredient: decitabine) and Topamax (ingredient: topiramate) respectively.

Both agreements put the companies in charge of domestic distribution, sales, and marketing of Janssen Korea’s products.

Accordingly, SK Plasma plans to strengthen its rare and incurable diseases portfolio with Dacogen, an intravenous treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. 

Meanwhile, Hyundai Pharmaceutical wishes to expand its central nervous system (CNS) focus by selling Janssen’s second-generation epilepsy treatment, Topamax, which has also been recommended as a primary drug to prevent migraines.

Myelodysplastic syndrome is characterized by abnormal blood cell formation in the bone marrow and a decrease in normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in peripheral blood. Acute myeloid leukemia is fast-growing cancer where immature white blood cells, appear in large quantities in the bone marrow and blood. After the new insurance standard was applied to the myelodysplastic syndrome in 2008, the insurance recognition standard was further expanded to include patients with acute myeloid leukemia twice in 2013 and 2023.

On the other hand, epilepsy affects the brain causing loss of consciousness and seizures to occur chronically and repeatedly due to temporary and irregular abnormal excitation of nerve cells. Anticonvulsants suppress excessive excitement in these brain cells and strengthen weak inhibition to prevent seizures. However, second-generation drugs like Topamax have fewer side effects than first-generation drugs and fewer drug interactions, said a Hyundai Pharmaceutical official.

"We will continue to strengthen our products related to rare and intractable diseases to help treat and improve patient’s quality of life in Korea," SK Plasma CEO Kim Seung-joo said.

Hyundai Pharmaceutical CEO Lee Sang-joon said that the company plans to strengthen its position in the CNS disease market by including Topamax in the new product line and will do its best to help more patients enjoy the benefits of Topamax.