– Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi®) is an international biopharmaceutical company specializing in rare diseases

– Handok will introduce Sobi’s innovative rare disease therapies, Empaveli® and Doptelet® in South Korea

Handok, a leading pharmaceutical company in South Korea, strengthens its rare disease business through a strategic partnership with international biopharmaceutical company Sobi.

Sobi is a specialized international biopharmaceutical company transforming the lives of people with rare and debilitating diseases. Providing reliable access to innovative medicines in the areas of haematology, immunology, and specialty care, Sobi has approximately 1,800 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The partnership with Handok is part of Sobi’s strategic growth initiative to expand its global reach.

Under this strategic partnership, Handok will register and launch Sobi’s innovative rare disease therapies, Empaveli^® (pegcetacoplan) and Doptelet^® (avatrombopag) in South Korea. Furthermore, Handok and Sobi plan to commercialize and distribute further Sobi medicines in South Korea.

Empaveli^® (pegcetacoplan) is the first targeted C3 therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in adult patients and is already approved in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Doptelet^® (avatrombopag) is an orally administered thrombopoietin receptor agonist for thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), already approved in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Empaveli and Doptelet are not yet approved in South Korea, which will be the first step in the Handok-Sobi collaboration.

Young-Jin Kim, Chairman and CEO of Handok, said “Handok is expanding collaborations with innovative global companies specializing in rare diseases to enhance our competitiveness in the rare disease business. We remain committed to expanding treatment opportunities for rare disease patients and improving their quality.”

Handok has been strengthening its rare disease business through collaborations with Actelion and Alexion. PNH treatment “Soliris”, introduced in South Korea in 2012, has grown to achieve annual sales of KRW 50 billion in 2022. Even after the acquisition and merger of Actelion and Alexion by global pharmaceutical companies and the repatriation of their business, Handok continues to enhance its leadership in the rare disease business through the introduction of new products.

Handok provides a comprehensive business platform covering product approval, reimbursement, marketing, and sales, based on its deep understanding and experience in the Korean market. Based on this, Handok has been collaborating with global companies to bring innovative treatments in areas of unmet medical need. Handok has introduced a Galafold (Amicus), the world’s first oral treatment for Fabry’s disease, Defitelio for severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease and Vyxeos for acute myeloid leukemia (Jazz Pharmaceutical), Pemazyre and Minjuvi (Incyte) for the treatments of rare cancer with very limited treatment options in South Korea. Recently, Handok signed a strategic agreement with argenx BV for the commercialization and distribution of VYVGAR an innovative treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Under these strategic partnerships, Handok is bolstering its portfolio in rare diseases and oncology business.