Onconic Therapeutics signs Nordic distribution deal for GERD treatment Jaqbo

Onconic Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Jeil Pharmaceutical, said Thursday that it has signed a supply agreement with a Swedish pharmaceutical company for the distribution and sale of Jaqbo (zastaprazan), a P-CAB-based treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Jaqbo is Korea’s 37th new drug.

Under the agreement, the Swedish partner will gain distribution and sales rights for Jaqbo 20 mg tablets in five Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. The company noted that the identity of the partner and key terms of the agreement remain confidential.

Onconic said the Swedish company is a strong player in the Nordic pharmaceutical market, particularly in the distribution of orphan and imported medicines.

To date, Onconic Therapeutics has signed technology transfer or export agreements for Jaqbo in 21 countries, including China, India, Mexico, and various nations in Latin America. With the addition of the five Nordic countries, the company has now expanded into 26 countries within a year of the drug’s approval.

Jaqbo received new drug approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April 2024 and was launched in the domestic market in October.

Onconic is currently conducting phase 3 clinical trials for Jaqbo in China, the world’s largest market for peptic ulcer treatments.

“We expect this Nordic distribution and sales agreement to serve as a stepping stone for Jaqbo’s future expansion into the EU,” an Onconic Therapeutics official said.