Vyvgart (efgartigimod), a breakthrough treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), will be introduced in Korea.

Handok said Wednesday it would strengthen the rare disease business by introducing Vyvgart, a new treatment for gMG. Handok has signed an agreement with argenx BV to handle the license registration, reimbursement, and exclusive distribution of Vyvgart.

Argenx BV has pipelines of treatments for various severe autoimmune diseases. It is developing and commercializing the world's first neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker for treating adults with gMG.

Vyvgart has won approval in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Israel, and China to treat adult patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG. In Japan, it won the nod to treat adult patients with gMG who have not responded adequately to steroidal or non-steroidal immunosuppressive drugs, according to Handok.

Vyvgart's approval was based on results from the global phase 3 ADAPT trial published in the Lancet Neurology in July 2021.

"Rare diseases, including gMG, can significantly impact the quality of life of patients and their families," Handok Chairman Kim Young-jin said. "Handok will continue to bring innovative therapies to Korea to help patients with rare diseases reduce the burden of their disease and give them hope in life."

Handok said it is collaborating with global companies to bring innovative medicines to Korea in areas of unmet medical need. Based on the company’s deep understanding and experience in the domestic market, it leads the entire commercialization process, from product approval to reimbursement to marketing and sales, it added.

For instance, Handok has recently launched a series of innovative medicines in Korea, including Pemazyre for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a new treatment option for rare cancers, Minjuvi for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and Vyxeos for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia, to expand its product pipeline and strengthen its business competitiveness.