Handok strengthens their partnership with Alexion

– Contract agreement for the sales of ‘Strensiq’ and ‘Kanuma’ in Korea as
well as extension of contract for ‘Soliris’ 


– Building a strong leadership in the field of rare diseases by introducing
innovative new medications and solidifying win-win partnership

On 17^th, Handok (Chairman
Youngjin Kim) and Alexion (CEO David Hallal) of US have formed an agreement for
the extension of contract for Soliris as well as sales of Strensiq and Kanuma
in Korea.

Handok first began their partnership
with Alexion in 2009 which was further solidified by the successful launching
of Soliris and formation of win-win partnership. Handok launched Soliris, a
treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) and Atypical Hemolytic
Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) in Korea in 2012. Handok wishes to extend their
partnership with Alexion to the area of treatment for rare metabolic diseases
through this contract. Also, by being in charge of the Korean sales of Strensiq
and Kanuma as well as Soliris, Handok has ambitions to strengthen their
leadership in the rare diseases area.

Strensiq and Kanuma by Alexion are innovative
alternative enzyme therapies for treatment of rare diseases. They had gained
approval from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety at the start of this year and
are currently undergoing processes for listing on the insurance reimbursement
list. Strensiq (asphotase alfa) is a long term enzyme alternative for the
treatment of bone conditions for patients suffering from early onset
hypophosphatemia. According to a clinical trial result which targeted neonatal
and infant hypophosphatemia patients, the likelihood for survival at age 1 for
patients who had received Strensiq injection for 48 weeks was 95% compared to
42% which was a value for historical control patients. Kanuma (sebelipase
alfa), on the other hand, is a long term enzyme alternative for the treatment
of Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (LAL-D). According to a clinical trial
result which targeted patients suffering from Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency,
patients who had received Kanuma injection had experienced a significant
decrease in ALT and liver fat. The survival rate for 12 months for infants who
had received Kanuma injections who are less than 6 months of age came to be 67%
compared to 0% with historical control.

Youngjin Kim, the chairman of Handok
mentioned that “I am grateful to be able to launch these excellent treatments
for rare diseases in Korea as well as Soliris. We will endeavor to help
patients to have a healthy life by introducing Strensiq and Kanuma as quick as
we can”.

Vice president David Kwasha of Alexion
Asia Pacific branch added that “I hope this partnership with Handok will grow
stronger and closer to enable Korean patients to receive Alexion’s medications.
For Alexion Korea, starting this month, to operate smoothly in Korea, I cannot
think of a better partner than Handok who has years of experience in the Korean
rare diseases field”.