LG Chem’s type 2 diabetes treatment Zemiglo (gemigliptin) and its combination lineup—Zemimet SR, Zemidapa, and Zemiro—have surpassed 1 trillion won ($688 million) in cumulative outpatient prescription sales, according to UBIST market data.

It’s the first domestically developed diabetes drug to reach this milestone, the company said Monday.

Since its 2012 launch, Zemiglo has posted 11 consecutive years of growth, with an average annual growth rate of 35 percent. In 2024, the drug generated 1.53 trillion won in sales, a 6 percent increase from the previous year, securing LG Chem the top spot in Korea’s diabetes market. More than 500,000 patients are now estimated to be using Zemiglo-based treatments.

The drug’s success didn’t come overnight. LG Chem spent 1.5 trillion won and two decades building clinical evidence, running more than 40 studies with 13,000 participants to back Zemiglo’s safety and efficacy.

LG Chem also expanded its diabetes portfolio in December 2024, acquiring the Glucophage (metformin hydrochloride) family from Merck Biopharma Korea. The move broadens its reach from newly diagnosed patients to those requiring triple-combination therapy.