Drug delivery technology (DDS), which replaces intravenous injections with subcutaneous injections and patches, has emerged as a new battleground in the pharmaceutical industry. Domestic pharmaceutical companies are accelerating platform development and production facility construction, targeting a market expected to grow to 700 trillion won by 2033.
According to industry sources on November 15, the method of drug delivery can affect the frequency of administration, side effects, and convenience, prompting pharmaceutical companies to invest heavily in drug delivery technology development. Market growth is also anticipated. Market research firm SkyQuest predicts that the global new drug delivery system market will grow from $30.405 billion last year to $54.885 billion (approximately 735 trillion won) by 2033.
Domestic pharmaceutical companies continue to invest heavily. Daewoong Pharmaceutical recently signed joint development contracts for drugs utilizing its high-concentration subcutaneous injection platform, Thermicra, and its soluble microneedle platform, Clofam. Thermicra is being developed by three companies, including Daewoong Bio, while Clofam is a collaboration between Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Daewoong Therapeutics. Thermicra technology converts antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) previously administered via intravenous injection into subcutaneous injections. Clofam is a patch-type platform that delivers drugs through microneedles that dissolve in the skin.
The company is also building production infrastructure. Daewoong Pharmaceutical plans to complete a dedicated manufacturing facility for Thermicra in Seongnam by December 2027 and aims to receive GMP approval for a microneedle dedicated sterile manufacturing facility being built at its third plant in Hwaseong in the first half of 2027. Park Sung-soo, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated, "This is an important stepping stone to apply next-generation drug delivery technology to various pharmaceuticals and connect it to actual product launches."
Hanmi Pharmaceutical is also leveraging drug delivery technology as a competitive advantage for new drugs. The company received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its obesity treatment, Epe (active ingredient: epeglanatide), which utilizes its sustained drug delivery platform, LabDiscovery. This technology extends the half-life of the drug, allowing for stable blood concentration and weekly administration. It is used for chronic weight management in adults with obesity without diabetes.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical is seeking global collaborations with its long-acting injection platform, DK-LADs. The company explains that this technology can reduce the frequency of administration and enhance treatment convenience, emphasizing its potential applications in chronic diseases and cancer treatment. Donggu Bio Pharmaceutical has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with U.S. biotech company Pelamore and Link Korea for the domestic development and commercialization of next-generation transdermal drug delivery technology. Pelamore is developing a technology that delivers active ingredients through the skin without microneedles, based on its proprietary lipid vesicle and skin penetration technology.
Industry insiders noted, "Securing drug delivery platforms allows companies to apply them to various products, broadening their pipelines and increasing opportunities for technology exports and joint development with global big pharma, which is why pharmaceutical companies continue to invest."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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