SK chemicals to exclusively market male hypogonadism drug Nebido in Korea

SK chemicals, which developed the world's first film-type erectile dysfunction treatment, has expanded its urology product portfolio.

SK chemicals said Wednesday that it would exclusively distribute Grunenthal's male hypogonadism treatment Nevido to hospitals and clinics nationwide.

Introduced by SK chemicals, Nebido (testosterone undecanoate) is used for testosterone replacement therapy for primary and secondary hypogonadism in men.

Hypogonadism is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the male hormone testosterone, also known as testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS). Low testosterone levels can lead to clinical features, such as regression of secondary sex characteristics, changes in body composition, lethargy, decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction.

Nebido is a long-acting injectable administered intramuscularly once every 10 to 14 weeks to maintain testosterone levels without accumulating in the body. This can lead to improved sexual function, including erectile dysfunction and low libido, as well as decreased body fat and bone density. In a clinical study of 1,438 patients with hypogonadism, the number of patients reporting “low” or “very low” libido decreased from 64 percent pre-treatment to 10 percent post-treatment, confirming the efficacy of Nebido in improving symptoms.

According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA, the Korean hypogonadism treatment market is expected to reach 10.1 billion won ($7.65 million) in 2023, with Nevido accounting for 6.9 billion in sales. Due to the aging population and increasing focus on quality of life, Nevido has grown at an annual average of 5.5 percent over the past five years.

The company attributes it to patient satisfaction due to its long half-life compared to other testosterone injections, which eliminates the need for patients to visit a doctor's office. In clinical trials, 89 percent of male patients taking Nebido were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their treatment.

“This agreement is a recognition of SK chemicals' expertise in the urology market by a global pharmaceutical company,” said Kim Yun-ho, head of SK chemicals' Pharma Business Division. ”We will focus our marketing efforts on expanding sales in the urology market based on our diverse product portfolio, including Nevido, the No. 1 product in the market for treating hypogonadism.”