CJ Healthcare said Thursday it will export its original gastroesophageal reflux disease drug to Thailand’s Pond’s Chemical.

K-CAB Tab (tegoprazan) is listed as the 30th new drug developed by a Korean company. It acquired commercial approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018 and was launched here in March 2019.

Since then, the drug has raked in 18.7 billion won ($15.8 million) in sales.

K-CAB Tab is already being exported to 17 countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Central American nations.

The market for gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment in Thailand, in the case of the main proton pump inhibitor (PPI) stream, is estimated to be worth around $76 million, according to IQVIA data.

K-CAB is a potassium competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) that offers quick relief of symptoms. Its advantage is that it can be taken any time of the day.

CJ Healthcare expects K-CAB Tab to launch in 2022 after due approval from Thai authorities. It will supply the finished medicine to Pond’s for 10 years.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)