ISU Abxis, a Kosdaq-listed biotech firm, said Thursday that it has applied for marketing authorization to sell Abcertin, a treatment for Gaucher disease, in Iraq.

According to ISU Abxis, the Iraqi health authorities visited the company’s facility where Abcertin is manufactured to conduct GMP due diligence in October. The company applied for its sales authorization immediately after it won approval.

If ISU Abxis secures the marketing license and succeeds in the bidding process, the company anticipates commencing shipments in the first half of the upcoming year.

Abcertin has already made inroads in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries, including Iran and Algeria. Notably, the drug holds a 100 percent share of the Gaucher disease market in Iran and approximately 50 percent in Algeria.

Since receiving Korean approval for Abcertin in 2012, ISU Abxis has conducted long-term clinical trials involving Korean and international patients to substantiate its safety and efficacy, resulting in the expansion of its export markets.

"Last year marked a milestone with our entry into Algeria, affirming the market potential in the MENA region. We have been bolstering our sales presence to tap into additional bidding markets," a company official said. "Considering market size and the prospect of license registration, we have chosen Iraq as a new entry into our expansion strategy."