Korea’s SK Chemical hemophilia drug approved in U.S.

By Lee Dong-in, Maeil Business News Korea Korea’s SK Chemical said Friday that its investigational hemophilia drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after it was licensed out to Australian pharmaceutical company CSL in 2009. Photo courtesy of Pulse/MaeilBusiness News Korea The drug branded as Afstyla became the first FDA-approved biologic drug developed by a Korean company, SK Chemical said. The company would be paid an undisclosed sum of royalties by its Australian partner on the successful regulatory approval. The company’s stock closed Friday at 78,100 won ($66.24), up 5.7 percent from the previous day. Afstyla is a type A hemophilia treatment. Patients with hemophilia have a congenital problem in blood coagulation affecting their muscles, joints, and internal organs. Most patients are male. According to market research company Data Monitor, the market of type A hemophilia drugs in the U.S. was valued at $3 billion in [...]