GeoYoung, the leading pharmaceutical distribution company in South Korea, announced on the 6th that it will begin exclusive sales and marketing for the country's top-selling oral contraceptive, Mercilon (active ingredients desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol).
GeoYoung has signed a domestic sales and distribution agreement with Albogen Korea for the over-the-counter Mercilon. With this agreement, GeoYoung has secured exclusive domestic sales and distribution rights for Mercilon. The company stated that starting in January, the first day of the contract, it will initiate full-scale sales activities targeting pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers nationwide. GeoYoung currently conducts transactions with 80% of pharmacies across the country.
Mercilon is an oral contraceptive sold in 42 countries worldwide. The combination of the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and the progestin desogestrel provides contraceptive efficacy. It has been the top-selling over-the-counter medication in the domestic market for 14 consecutive years, based on pharmaceutical distribution performance.
Chosun-hye, chairperson of GeoYoung, said, "This contract proves once again our capabilities in over-the-counter sales and marketing," adding, "GeoYoung's unique pharmaceutical distribution capabilities and strong penetration rates in pharmacy sales will generate synergy."
Lee Jun-su, CEO of Albogen Korea, noted, "The strategic partnership with GeoYoung, which has one of the highest levels of pharmacy networks and strong sales infrastructure in the country, is the optimal choice for a win-win situation for both parties," and expressed expectations that "together, we can ensure rapid pharmaceutical supply and provide more women with safe and reliable options."
GeoYoung plans to actively pursue additional collaborations for over-the-counter drug distribution with other pharmaceutical companies, both domestic and international. The company has been exclusively distributing and marketing Zyrtec (active ingredient cetirizine hydrochloride), the top-selling allergy treatment in the domestic antihistamine market, since 2023. Last year, it became the first domestic pharmaceutical distribution company to conduct comprehensive marketing for a multinational pharmaceutical company's over-the-counter allergy treatment, achieving the number one market share.