Evolving from API Supplier to Finished Drug Manufacturer
Latanoprost Soft Gains Approval in Germany and 11 Other Countries
A new shift is underway in the glaucoma treatment market. Korean pharmaceutical company 바카라 게임 Life Science has received marketing authorization for Latanoprost Soft, a preservative-free, single-use glaucoma treatment, in 12 European countries and has officially begun sales. This achievement marks a rare case in which a Korean firm has completed both clinical trials and manufacturing locally in Europe before entering the competitive ophthalmic market.
At a press briefing on April 29, CEO Chang-young Oh and other key executives presented the company’s vision and international product strategy.
Rooted in Academia, Driven by Research and Success
바카라 게임 Life Science was founded in 2000 as a university-affiliated startup at Sungkyunkwan University’s College of Pharmacy by Professor Won-Hoon Ham, who now serves as the company’s chairman. What began in a modest 180-square-foot lab has grown into a globally ambitious pharmaceutical company.
In 2023, the company rebranded from Yonsung Fine Chemicals to 바카라 게임 Life Science, signaling its strategic pivot from an API-focused business to a developer of finished pharmaceutical products. The initials “바카라 게임” are derived from Yonsung, written in Hanja (Sino-Korean characters) meaning “research” and “success”, embodying the company’s mission to transform scientific research into tangible value.
바카라 게임 currently earns over million annually through its API business, with more than 85% of revenue from exports. It is among the few Korean companies to have passed inspections by major global regulatory agencies, including the U.S. FDA, UK MHRA, Japan’s PMDA, and Brazil’s ANVISA. The company holds core expertise in synthesizing high-purity, high-potency APIs (HPAPIs), particularly in prostaglandin derivatives.
CEO Oh stated, “We’re now leveraging our deep API expertise to move decisively into the finished drug market.”
End-to-End Integration: From API to Finished Products
바카라 게임 Life Science is building a vertically integrated pharmaceutical supply chain, with API production based in Hwaseong and finished drug manufacturing in Icheon. The Icheon facility spans approximately 120,000 square feet across four floors, featuring automated equipment capable of producing 300 million oral doses annually. The facility also houses large-scale HVAC s바카라 게임tems and received GMP certification in 2024. It is now gearing up for full-scale production of oral formulations such as tablets.
CEO Oh emphasized the company’s focus on ophthalmic drugs and treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), aligning with their core expertise in prostaglandin APIs. He also noted ongoing efforts in global regulatory strategy and formulation enhancement using these compounds.
From early on, 바카라 게임 Life Science has targeted global markets, establishing subsidiaries in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan—not just for sales, but as hubs for joint R&D and open innovation with local pharma firms. The company has already completed two to three successful co-development projects in Europe.
Notably, it has developed injectable drugs such as Iloprost for PAH and Sugammadex for neuromuscular blockade reversal in partnership with 바카라 게임 firms. These products are now being supplied globally. Export revenues have increased dramatically, from million in 2022 to million in 2023, reaching million in 2024.
This growth reflects 바카라 게임 Life Science’s ability to execute a full pharmaceutical pipeline—clinical development, regulatory approval, production, and commercialization—anchored in Europe. The recent approval and launch of Latanoprost Soft across 12 European markets highlights this capability.
Today, over 25% of 바카라 게임 Life Science’s nearly 300 employees—about 75 people—are dedicated to R&D. The company recorded approximately million in revenue in 2023 and is projected to reach million in 2024. Sales from its finished drug portfolio are expected to rise significantly this year, led by Latanoprost Soft. Expansion plans are already in motion for the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., where the company has completed pre-IND procedures with the FDA.
Q: What isLatanoprost Softeye drop?
A:Latanoprost Softis a glaucoma treatment. Unlike conventional multi-use eye drops that contain preservatives—which can cause side effects like eye irritation, dryness, and redness—our product is a preservative-free, single-use formulation. This improves both convenience and patient compliance.
Q: How does this product differentiate from other existingproducts?
A: There are three key differentiators. First, it is preservative-free, eliminating irritating agents like benzalkonium chloride (BAK) to reduce ocular surface irritation. Second, unlike the original which requires refrigeration,Latanoprost Softcan be stored at room temperature for extended periods. Lastly, it minimizes drug absorption issues and enhances hygiene, allowing safe and convenient use without infection risk.
Q: What about its efficacy and safety?
A: Phase 3 clinical trials were conducted in Greece and demonstrated non-inferiority in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) compared to the original latanoprost. After 12 weeks of treatment, the average IOP reduction forLatanoprost Softwas -6.1 mmHg, versus -6.8 mmHg for the comparator, with no statistically significant difference.
Safety evaluations—including Draize tests and impression cytology—showed a significant reduction in side effects such as corneal irritation and conjunctival hyperemia. Even under long-term storage conditions, the product maintained stability across key parameters like pH, osmolarity, potency, particulates, and sterility.
Q: The product is manufactured in Germany. What is the status of its 바카라 게임 rollout?
A: As of May 29, 2024,Latanoprost Softreceived marketing approval in 12 바카라 게임 countries, including Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. Sales have already begun in Finland and Sweden. It’s a meaningful milestone, as few Korean pharmaceutical companies have completed clinical trials, obtained approvals, and begun local manufacturing and sales entirely within Europe.
Finished product manufacturing is being handled by our German partner CMO, Pharma Stulln. 바카라 게임 Life Science produces the active ingredient—latanoprost—in-house and oversees the entire process through to the finished formulation. The API is the world’s first to receive CEP (Certificate of Suitability) compliance from the European Pharmacopoeia, ensuring high quality and consistency.
Q: What are the company’s global expansion plans?
A: We are in licensing discussions to expand beyond 바카라 게임 into markets such as China, North America, Latin America, and Eastern 바카라 게임. In the U.S., we’ve already completed the FDA pre-IND process. We’re also pursuing global investigator-initiated trials (IITs) to further enhance the international credibility of our product.