– Handok has signed an agreement with argenx BV for the commercialization and distribution of VYVGART in South Korea

– VYVGART is the first neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker approved for the treatment of adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG)

Handok, a leading pharmaceutical company, is bolstering its rare disease business by introducing VYVGART, an innovative treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). This significant advancement comes as Handok signs a strategic agreement with argenx BV for the commercialization and distribution of VYVGART in South Korea.

argenx is a global immunology company with a robust pipeline of programs addressing multiple severe autoimmune diseases. argenx developed and is commercializing VYVGART, the first neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker approved for the treatment of adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG)

VYVGART is approved in the United States, Europe, the UK, Israel, and China for the treatment of adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti- acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive, and in Japan for the treatment of adults with gMG who do not have sufficient response to steroids or non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapies (ISTs). The approval of VYVGART was based on results from the global Phase 3 ADAPT trial, which were published in 2021 issue of The Lancet Neurology.

Young-Jin Kim, Chairman and CEO of Handok, said “Rare diseases such as gMG can have a negative  impact on patients and their families’ lives. We at Handok remain committed to bringing new and much-needed therapeutic options to patients with rare diseases.”

Handok is collaborating with global companies to bring innovative treatments in areas of unmet medical need. Handok provides the entire commercialization process such as product approval, reimbursement, marketing, and sales, based on its deep understanding and experiences in the Korea market. Recently Handok has introduced innovative treatments in South Korea, Vyxeos (Jazz Pharmaceutical) for the treatment of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia, Pemazyre and Minjuvi (Incyte) for the treatments of rare cancer with very limited treatment options.