Vivozon Pharmaceutical said on the 16th it plans to launch a 20 mL small-pack product of the non-opioid analgesic "Onaprazoo" in March.
Onaprazoo is a non-opioid injectable analgesic used to control moderate to severe acute pain after surgery, and it received marketing approval from the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety in Dec. 2024 as Korea's 38th homegrown new drug. It is drawing attention as an alternative that reduces the burden of dependence issues associated with opioid analgesics and the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse reactions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Until now, it had been supplied domestically only in a single 100 mL dose, but with the addition of the 20 mL product, it can now be used more flexibly to match the doses needed in clinical settings. The small-pack product is also expected to help reduce drug waste and lower storage and handling burdens, improving management efficiency for medical staff.
Vivozon Pharmaceutical plans to ramp up its dose diversification strategy starting with the launch of the 20 mL product. It is developing a high-concentration injectable with a target launch in 2027 and plans to roll out smaller products in sequence, including 10 mL, 5 mL, and 2 mL.
A Vivozon Pharmaceutical official said, "We added the small-pack product to reflect input from medical sites," and added, "Storage space burdens will be reduced and segmented supply tailored to the demand of each medical institution will be possible, improving distribution efficiency." The official added, "We will improve the accessibility and utility of Onaprazoo to help create a safer and more efficient pain treatment environment."