Kwangdong Pharmaceutical licenses in 4 rare disease drugs from Italy

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical announced an expansion of its portfolio through a strategic agreement with Italy's Chiesi Farmaceutici, an Italy-based pharmaceutical company specializing in rare disease treatments.

Under the accord, Kwangdong will acquire exclusive rights to sell and distribute four of Chiesi’s rare disease drugs – Mycapssa, Juxtapid, Filsuvez, and Myalept -- in Korea.

Mycapssa, an oral medication, offers a new treatment option for patients with acromegaly, a rare condition characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion due to pituitary tumors. Previously, patients managed their condition with lifelong injections, but Mycapssa provides an alternative with its oral administration.

Juxtapid targets homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder that causes extremely high cholesterol levels and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, before age 20.

Filsuvez is approved for the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic disorder in which even minor friction can cause severe blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. Beginning in infancy, this condition can lead to extensive pain and difficulty in daily activities.

Myalept, the only approved treatment for lipodystrophy, addresses a critical need for patients with this rare condition characterized by the loss of body fat and associated metabolic complications.

The drug was previously recognized by Korea's National Clinical Trial Support Foundation (KoNECT) as one of the top five urgently needed global new drugs in 2022.

“Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is committed to improving the treatment landscape for rare disease patients in Korea by introducing Chiesi’s innovative drugs,” Kwangdong Pharmaceutical CEO Choi Sung-won said. “Our strategic partnership with Chiesi will play a crucial role in expanding and strengthening our rare disease portfolio.”