LG Chem launches diabetes drug Zemidapa in Thailand

LG Chem announced Wednesday that it has launched its type 2 diabetes combination therapy, Zemidapa (ingredient: gemigliptin/dapagliflozin), in Thailand and outlined broader global commercialization plans for the drug.

The company made the announcement during the “Zemi-CONNECT Global” symposium held in Bangkok, which gathered more than 120 endocrinologists from Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. The event coincided with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2025 Congress, where LG Chem participated as a main sponsor.

Zemidapa combines LG Chem’s Zemiglo (ingredient: gemigliptin tartrate sesquihydrate) with the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor dapagliflozin.

To support the drug’s global rollout, LG Chem prioritized entry into the Thai market, where it has already established a direct sales infrastructure.

According to IQVIA MIDAS data, Thailand’s combined DPP-4 and SGLT-2 inhibitor market was valued at approximately 250 billion won ($178.7 million) in 2024, with combination therapies in this category recording an average annual growth rate of 36 percent over the past three years.

The company plans to leverage its existing sales networks for Zemiglo and its combination product Zemimet to maximize synergies. In 2024, Zemiglo and Zemimet captured approximately 13 percent of Thailand’s DPP-4 inhibitor market, positioning them as leading products driving growth in the country’s diabetes market.

“In Thailand, the importance of managing young-onset diabetes (YOD), defined as diabetes diagnosed before age 40, is increasing,” LG Chem's Primary Care Business Division Hwang In-chul said. “We expect continued demand for combination therapies like Zemidapa and Zemimet, which offer strong blood sugar-lowering effects.”

Starting with Thailand, LG Chem plans to expand the drug’s presence in ASEAN markets and Latin America, Hwang added.