Handok said on Wednesday that it entered into a strategic partnership with global biopharmaceutical company Sobi to strengthen its rare disease business. 

Sobi, a Swedish biopharmaceutical specializing in rare diseases, provides innovative therapies in hematology, immunology, and specialty care, with 1,800 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. 

Under the strategic partnership, Handok will introduce Sobi's innovative rare disease treatments starting with Empaveli (ingredient: pegcetacoplan) and Doptelet (ingredient: avatrombopag) in Korea. 

Additionally, Handok and Sobi will continue to introduce other products from Sobi in Korea.

Empaveli is the first C3 protein-targeted therapy for the treatment of adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and is currently licensed in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Doptelet is an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) for the treatment of adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), currently licensed in the US, Europe and Australia. 

Accordingly, the first collaboration between Handok and Sobi will be for the domestic approval of Empaveli and Doptelet. 

"Handok is strengthening its competitiveness in the rare disease business by expanding collaborations with innovative global companies focused on rare diseases," Handok Chairman and CEO Kim Young-jin. "We will strive to expand treatment opportunities and improve the quality of life of patients with rare diseases with the highest priority." 

Handok is also the local distributor for the treatment of other rare diseases including Fabry disease, severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease, acute myeloid leukemia, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, the company recently signed a license registration, reimbursement, and exclusive distribution agreement with global immunology company, Argenx BV, to introduce Vyvgart (ingredient: efgartigimod) for innovative systemic myasthenia gravis treatment.