The Korea Fair Trade Commission on the 4th ordered Boryung, which is seeking to acquire the sales rights to Sanofi's original anticancer drug "Taxotere" containing docetaxel, to sell the sales rights for "Ditaxel," a generic anticancer drug with the same ingredient, to a third party.
The docetaxel anticancer drug for treating breast cancer is a taxane-class injectable made from European yew extract, and the original developed by Sanofi has been sold since 1995. With the substance patent expiring in 2010, numerous generics were launched.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) viewed that if Boryung acquires the sales rights to Sanofi's Taxotere, it is highly likely to restrict competition in the domestic market for anticancer drugs containing docetaxel.
In the domestic market for anticancer drugs containing docetaxel, Boryung is the No. 2 player with a 13.8% market share, while Sanofi is No. 1 with a 64.7% share. With this business combination, Boryung would hold the top position with a combined market share of 64.7% to 78.5%.
An official at the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said, "Although generics were launched long ago, the market share of the original Taxotere remains very high," and added, "If Boryung, the No. 1 in the generic market, also acquires the original, the gap with the remaining players will widen to an incomparable level."