Japan-based RaQualia Pharma has announced that one of its sublicensees, PT Kalbe Pharma has started the product sales in Indonesia of tegoprazan, a drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which was licensed through South Korea-based HK inno.N Corporation.

Tegoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), a new-generation treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease. P-CABs have a different mechanism of action from proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the first-line therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease, and suppress gastric acid secretion more rapidly and persistently than PPIs.

RaQualia and HK inno.N entered into an exclusive license agreement for developing, marketing, and manufacturing tegoprazan with sublicensing rights. HK inno.N and sublicensees worldwide have been conducting business activities for tegoprazan. 

In Indonesia, Kalbe received marketing approval from the Indonesian authorities in October 2022 for the treatment of non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. Since then, Kalbe has been preparing for the launch, and the product was launched on the fourth of this month under the trade name TEZA. The Indonesian market for anti-ulcer drugs is worth approximately $120 million, making it the largest market in the Southeast Asian region.

With this launch, tegoprazan is now available in six countries: Korea, China, Mongolia, the Philippines, Mexico, and Indonesia. In addition, clinical development, regulatory review, and launch preparation efforts are underway in 30 countries.