Dong-A ST said it has signed a licensing agreement with SK biopharmaceuticals for the epilepsy drug cenobamate in 30 countries, including Korea, Southeast and Southwest Asia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey.

The deal excludes the U.S. as cenobamate has been commercially available in the U.S. since 2020. 

Under the accord, Dong-A ST will receive from SK biopharmaceuticals the technology for producing the finished pharmaceutical product (DP) of cenobamate and will be responsible for the authorization, sales, and production of the finished pharmaceutical product in these 30 countries.

Dong-A ST plans to list cenobamate for reimbursement and launch it in Korea by 2026. It also plans to pursue authorization and supply in 29 other countries, including Southeast and Southwest Asia, Russia, and South Africa.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder after stroke and dementia in Korea.

Based on data from UBIST, a drug market research firm, there were about 190,000 epilepsy patients in Korea in 2022, with the market estimated to be around 130 billion won ($99.2 million).

“I am very pleased to collaborate with Dong-A ST, which possesses expertise in the Korean central nervous system (CNS) market and a competitive global network,” SK biopharmaceuticals CEO Lee Dong-hoon said. “I look forward to Dong-A ST being a partner capable of quickly and reliably delivering the benefits of cenobamate, an innovative drug recognized for its outstanding efficacy, to patients in Korea and other countries.”

Dong-A ST CEO Kim Min-young also said, “To meet the long-standing expectations of epilepsy patients, we will work closely with SK biopharmaceuticals to ensure the early supply of cenobamate, a highly effective epilepsy drug.”