Boryung announced on the 17th that it has signed a contract for contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) of the schizophrenia treatment 'Zyprexa Tablets (Zyprexa, active ingredient olanzapine)' with the global pharmaceutical company CHEPLAPHARM, headquartered in Germany and Switzerland.
Accordingly, Boryung plans to supply Zyprexa Tablets, which will be sold in up to 46 countries including Europe and North America, to CHEPLAPHARM starting as early as the fourth quarter of next year. The product will be manufactured at Boryung's Yesan Campus and exported by CHEPLAPHARM through its global distribution network.
Zyprexa was acquired by Boryung from the U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in 2021 through a legacy brands acquisition (LBA) method. LBA refers to the strategy of acquiring original drugs that can serve as a cash cow based on high brand loyalty even after the patent expires.
Boryung completed the transfer of production in 2024 after a global technology transfer and quality equivalence verification. CHEPLAPHARM acquired the global rights excluding Korea from Eli Lilly in 2023.
A Boryung official said, "This is the first case where we have signed a global CDMO contract for an oral formulation," noting, "It is significant in that we have expanded our CDMO business capabilities following injection products."
Boryung cited the 'Yesan Campus production facility' that meets global standards as the key to winning this contract. The company's Yesan plant received EU-GMP certification for a cytotoxic anticancer injection production facility from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2023. The company is currently preparing for EU-GMP certification for its Zyprexa production line according to oral formulation standards, as well as cGMP certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is also pursuing certification from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) simultaneously, as ANVISA is the leading regulatory agency in Latin America.
Kim Seong-jin, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Boryung, emphasized, "This contract is significant as it recognizes Boryung's production capabilities for original blockbuster products from global pharmaceutical companies, as well as its authorization and supply capabilities in 46 countries worldwide," stating, "We will expand collaboration with CHEPLAPHARM and continuously create opportunities for global expansion of our CDMO business through this cooperation."
Edeltraud Lafer, CEO of CHEPLAPHARM, said, "We are pleased to further expand our successful partnership with Boryung," adding, "Through this partnership, we will be able to supply Zyprexa more smoothly in the global market and ensure stable product availability for patients and healthcare professionals."
Meanwhile, CHEPLAPHARM supplies pharmaceuticals to over 145 countries and recorded sales of more than 2.4 trillion won last year.