When I am sick, I particularly miss my mother. Even bitter medicine went down easily when my mother ground it up and mixed it with water in a spoon. Perhaps I needed my mother's medicinal touch because there were no children's medicines available. Adult tablets were too big for children to take and had a strong bitter taste.
Children's medicine was born almost simultaneously with Children's Day on May 5. According to Chong Kun Dang, the company's first children's medicine was 'Neo Oing Syrup,' produced in 1960. The following year, May 5 was established as Children's Day through the Children's Welfare Act. The day first designated as Children's Day by Bang Jeong-hwan in 1923 was May 1.
According to the pharmaceutical industry, the concept of children's exclusive medicine emerged in Korea in the 1960s. Since then, low-dose medicines, syrup formulations, and chewable medications for children have been continuously developed. Following Chong Kun Dang, other pharmaceutical companies such as Dongwha Pharm, Bukwang Pharmaceutical, and Yuhan Corporation expanded the domestic children's medicine market.
Dongwha Pharm released the children's fever reducer 'Pancol Syrup' in 1969. Subsequently, Bukwang Pharmaceutical launched the children's syrup cold medicine 'Colitusal' in the 1970s, which left a strong impression with its TV advertisement using the catchy slogan 'Ko, Ko, Ko, Colitusal.' Yuhan Corporation introduced the children's acute respiratory infection fever reducer 'Pontal Syrup' in the 1980s. Both Colitusal and Pontal Syrup do not have their release years documented in company and government records, leading to estimated release dates based on internal documents including print advertisements.
Pharmaceutical companies released liquid (syrup) forms for children who have difficulty swallowing bitter powder medications. The taste was also enhanced with sweet flavors like strawberry, lemon, and orange. Most children's medicines have the same active ingredients as adult versions but differ in dosage.
Since the 2000s, pharmaceutical companies have launched children's medicines that reduce additives like colorants, considering the safety concerns of parents, while enhancing convenience in usage and portability.
Dongwha Pharm launched the children's exclusive digestive remedy 'Kko-ma Hwal-myeong-su' for ages 5 to 7 in 2015, followed by the release of children's medicine products in single-use stick pouch form. In 2018, they introduced 'Pancol-i Syrup,' a children's fever reducer, and 'Pancol-i Cold Syrup,' a comprehensive cold medicine.
Daewon Pharmaceutical launched the fever reducer and cold medicine 'Coldaewon Kids' in 2017 in a squeezable stick pouch form. It emphasized that no colorants or preservatives were added for use in children under 12 years old. There are two types of fever reducers with acetaminophen and ibuprofen and two products targeting common coughs and colds in children. Coldaewon is an over-the-counter drug and can only be purchased at pharmacies. There is also a prescription-required version called Kodaewon.
According to the pharmaceutical industry, the competition for launching and developing children's medicines has recently cooled due to the declining birth rate. Decreased demand means that profitability cannot be expected. Despite this, there are still growth rates for some children's medicines in the prescription drug market, specifically known as 'growth hormone injections.'
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the market for growth hormone drugs, which was worth 148.8 billion won in 2019, has grown at an average annual rate of 31%, expanding to 444.5 billion won in 2023.
LG CHEM's 'Yutrophin' was launched in 1993 as the first domestic growth hormone to replace imported products, currently holding half of the domestic market. Yutrophin's revenue rose annually by over 20%, growing from 62 billion won in 2019 to about 160 billion won in 2023, with last year's estimated revenue reaching 180 billion won.
Dong-A ST launched the growth hormone drug 'Grotropin' in 1995. Sales last year were 118.9 billion won, an increase of 25% from the previous year. Recently, they introduced the pen-type injection 'Grotropin-II Injection' to enhance ease of administration.
Growth hormone preparations are prescription drugs originally indicated for children's growth disorders caused by growth hormone secretion problems, Turner syndrome, etc. If diagnosed with these conditions, health insurance benefits are available. However, it is estimated that the non-reimbursable proportion of the domestic growth hormone market has reached 70%. Many parents who do not have growth issues opt to have their children receive growth hormone injections privately.
An industry insider noted, 'The impact of parents increasingly investing in and supporting a single child in the low birth rate era is significant,' adding, 'It is also regrettable as it reflects the Korean societal trend of emphasizing appearance and comparing children to one another.'
The world's first children's medicine was released a century earlier than in our country. It was 'Gripe Water,' developed in 1851 by British pharmacist William Woodward. This medicine was used to relieve infant colic and was made by combining alcohol, sugar, soda water, and oils extracted from herbal dill. Later, harmful alcohol was removed, and the formulation was changed to focus on natural herbal extracts.