Seoul Pharma Co., a South Korean drug maker widely known for its technology to produce orally disintegrating films (ODF), has signed a deal with Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz AG to supply its ODF formulation of tadalafil, an erectile dysfunction treatment, raising expectations that the Korean drug company would receive more orders to produce its film-type erectile dysfunction cure to other regions.

Seoul Pharma on Monday said it will produce and supply four types of tadalafil drugs - each with 10, 20, 50, and 100 milligram doses - that Sandoz has been exporting to Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hong Kong under the consignment production agreement.

An unnamed official from Seoul Pharma said the initial terms include exporting products to the four countries but the deal could expand to supply products to other regions in Asia.

Sandoz, a unit under Novartis Group, is the world’s second-largest multinational generic pharmaceutical firm, and it accounts for up to 12 percent of Asia Pacific’s $1.07 billion erectile dysfunction treatment market. Seoul Pharma is expected to see a significant increase in its sales once it is able to expand the deal to include other regions in Asia. Seoul Pharma is also in talks with other global drug makers including Sandoz to produce and supply ODF-type erectile dysfunction drugs in Europe.

The Seoul Pharma official also said that in May and June, it has acquired separate patents for the ODF form of high-dose sildenafil used in treating erectile dysfunction in Japan and Canada. The official added that with growing interest in ODF-type erectile dysfunction treatments in Europe and the United States, the Korean company is expected to advance entry to other overseas markets. ODF is a form of dosage like tablets and capsules, but in which patients place a thin film on their tongue without having to drink water.

Seoul Pharma, which has been widely acknowledged for its high technology in the ODF sector, has already signed a contract with Pfizer Korea to supply Viagra in the form of smart film that patients only have to place a stamp-sized film on their tongue. The company has also signed similar deals with Center Laboratories Inc. in Taiwan and Medvision Co. in Kuwait.

By Kim Gi-chul

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