SK Chemicals said on the 26th that its natural product osteoarthritis treatment, Joinstab tablet (Joinst), has recorded cumulative sales of 700 billion won. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease in which the cartilage in joints wears away.
Joinst was the first natural product medicine approved in Korea and was launched in 2002. With three herbal extract ingredients, it has anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective effects. The company said it can not only relieve pain but also manage symptoms over the long term.
According to the pharmaceutical market research firm Ubist, Joinst sales increased 28% from 46.4 billion won in 2021 to 59.5 billion won in 2025. Joinst has sold a cumulative total of 1.9 billion tablets to date. More than 80 million tablets are prescribed annually on average.
The company analyzed that the market is expanding as the number of osteoarthritis patients steadily increases with an aging population. The need for long-term use, given the nature of the treatment, also affected sales. The company is preparing to launch a high-dose product.
Park Hyun-seon, head of the pharma business at SK Chemicals, said, "We are being chosen in the market thanks to long-accumulated prescribing experience and clinical evidence," adding, "We will strengthen our product strategy to improve dosing convenience."