JEIL PHARMACEUTICAL(271980) subsidiary Onconic Therapeutics(476060) said on the 6th that the new drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease "Ja Q Bo (ingredient name: zastaprazan)" received marketing approval in India.
Ja Q Bo obtained manufacturing and sales approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India as a treatment for erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is the first time Ja Q Bo has received marketing approval overseas, and the company plans to use this as a springboard to fully target the Indian market of 1.4 billion people.
The approval allows the manufacture and sale in India of 20 mg tablets of zastaprazan citrate as a treatment for erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ja Q Bo successfully completed phase 3 clinical trials in India in Jun. and applied for new drug approval; about two months later, it obtained marketing approval, wrapping up key procedures for local commercialization.
Onconic Therapeutics signed an exclusive license agreement for Ja Q Bo with an Indian pharmaceutical company in 2024. The local partner will handle development, regulatory approvals, production, and commercialization, and, with this approval, will begin preparations for launch, including post-marketing surveillance (PMS), product registration, packaging, production, and distribution.
India, the world's most populous country with more than 1.4 billion people, has seen steady growth in demand for gastroesophageal reflux disease treatments amid economic expansion and dietary changes. While proton pump inhibitors (PPI) dominate the local market, potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB), which provide rapid and sustained acid suppression, have recently drawn attention as a new treatment option.
With this approval, Ja Q Bo's overseas business has advanced beyond technology transfer and development into the commercialization stage. Onconic Therapeutics expects milestone revenue tied to the approval phase under the contract and, once sales begin, also anticipates securing royalty revenue linked to sales.
Since its domestic launch in Oct. 2024, Ja Q Bo has rapidly expanded its share of the prescription market. Prescription sales totaled 21.2 billion won in the first quarter of 2026 and 25.6 billion won in the second quarter. It is currently present in 27 countries, including China, India, and Latin America, and as approvals and commercialization progress in each country, its global business base is also expanding.
An Onconic Therapeutics official said, "With the manufacturing and sales approval obtained about two months after the successful phase 3 clinical trial in India in Jun. and the new drug application, Ja Q Bo's launch in India has become even more tangible," and added, "We will work seamlessly with our local partner on launch preparations to establish a stable foothold in the Indian market and expand global sales and royalty revenue."