Boryung said Tuesday that it has launched Rebetrix Capsules, a combination of aspirin and rabeprazole. Rabetrix improves gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur when taking aspirin through rabeprazole.

Aspirin, an antiplatelet drug, treats and prevents diseases caused by blood clots. However, aspirin is known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding by about 40 percent, which has led many patients who are at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, including stomach ulcers, to discontinue treatment.

When administered in combination with aspirin, rabeprazole can reduce the recurrence rate of gastric ulcers and improve gastroduodenal mucosal damage.

According to Boryung, Rabetrix, which combines the two components, is prescribed for patients who are at risk of gastrointestinal bleeding but need to take aspirin. The new drug features the convenience of taking just one pill daily compared to two separate medications, and its price is also relatively low.

In addition, aspirin is difficult to take before meals due to the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, Rabetrix has overcome this disadvantage with its enteric-coated capsule technology, which disintegrates in the intestine rather than the stomach. Moreover, the “Polycap” formulation allows tablets containing different ingredients in one capsule to maintain their respective release patterns and minimize interference.

With the launch of Rabetrix, Boryung plans to expand its cardiovascular portfolio to include antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs to strengthen its position in the market.

“Rabetrix prevents the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur when taking aspirin and has the convenience of use and an affordable price,” said Kim Young-suk, head of the CE Division at Boryung. “We will continue to focus on securing our competitive edge in the market by launching excellent medicines that can expand treatment options in the circulatory field.”