The Jardiance family of diabetes drugs, including Jardiance (empagliflozin) and combo drug Jardiance Duo (empagliflozin and metformin), copromoted by Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly, sold over 10 billion won ($8.25 million) in the first quarter, industry data showed.
The drugs are classified as sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.
According to IQVIA data, the Jardiance family's prescriptions reached 10.1 billion won in the first quarter, a 49 percent jump from the same period a year earlier.
By item, Jardiance sales increased 27 percent on-year to 7.3 billion won, and those of Jardiance Duo, 172 percent to 2.8 billion won in the first quarter. Jardiance Duo’s additional high-dose medication arrived in the market last year. With more dose options, Jardiance Duo achieved the most significant sales growth among all SGLT-2 inhibitors in the cited period.
Jardiance was the first diabetes drug to confirm the benefit of a reduction in cardiovascular disease-related death risk. It expanded the scope of diabetes treatment from blood sugar control to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
In the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trials, Jardiance lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke) by 14 percent, cardiovascular death by 38 percent, all-cause mortality by 32 percent, and hospitalization for heart failure by 35 percent, in comparison with placebo.
Based on the cardiovascular data from Jardiance, the American Heart Association (ACC) recommended Jardiance to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adult patients with type-2 diabetes who accompany a cardiovascular disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) also recommended Jardiance in the 2020 diabetes treatment guidelines as a drug with cardiovascular benefits.
Kim Chang-su, Head of Marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, said Jardiance is an innovative treatment that expanded the goal of the type-2 diabetes treatment to control and prevent cardiovascular complications from blood sugar control.
“We will do our best to help more Korean patients manage diabetes by preventing cardiovascular disease as well as lowering blood glucose through Jardiance,” he said.
Kim Kye-won, Director of Diabetes BU/Marketing Capabilities at Lilly Korea, said this year marks the fifth year since the announcement of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial outcomes on Jardiance that proved its cardiovascular benefit as the first diabetes drug.
“Jardiance, which led to the expansion of the diabetes treatment paradigm, has shown two-digit growth since its launch. As it secured various doses with a rapid market share increase, we expect its greater growth,” she said.