HK inno.N has achieved a significant milestone in its international expansion with its gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) drug, K-CAB, gaining marketing approval in six Latin American countries, including Colombia. This marks a crucial step in the company’s strategy to broaden its presence in the region.
Since its introduction in South Korea in 2019, K-CAB has dominated the domestic peptic ulcer medication market, achieving outpatient prescription sales of 617.4 billion won (approximately $457.3 million) by July 2024. The drug is noted for its rapid efficacy, taking effect within one hour, and its proven safety even with long-term use of up to six months.
K-CAB has now entered 18 Latin American markets, with recent launches in Mexico, Peru, and Chile, and upcoming debuts in six more countries by the end of the year. The drug has been rebranded as “Ki-CAB” in these regions. HK inno.N’s partner, Carnot, which handles the drug’s distribution in 17 Latin American countries excluding Brazil, is driving the marketing efforts. Carnot aims to position K-CAB among the top five peptic ulcer medications in Mexico by the end of 2024, building on its early success.
The recent approvals in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia are part of a broader push to secure K-CAB’s dominance in the Latin American market by 2025. Ongoing academic engagements between Korean and Latin American medical professionals underscore the growing interest in K-CAB as a leading GERD treatment in the region.
As HK inno.N continues to penetrate global markets, K-CAB’s success in Latin America signals a strong potential for the company to establish itself as a major player in the gastrointestinal specialty drug sector by mid-decade.
