Astellas Pharma Korea's sales rebounded within four years due to the sales growth of Xtandi (enzalutamide), a prostate cancer drug.

In addition to its leading product, Prograf (tacrolimus), showing strong sales, the company is expected to continue to generate sales growth when Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), an ADC for the treatment of urothelial cancer, become reimbursable.



After sales peaked at KRW 290 billion in 2019, Astellas Pharma Korea experienced a decline to KRW 232.2 billion in 2022

Last year, Astellas Pharma Korea's sales amounted to KRW 251. 1 billion, up 7.5% from KRW 232. 2 billion in 2022. This marks a rebound within 4 years after 2019.

The company's sales peaked at KRW 290 billion in 2019, then declined every year with KRW 275.6 billion in 2020, KRW 246.4 billion in 2021, and KRW 232.2 billion in 2022.

Astellas Pharma Korea's operational profit in 2019 was KRW 22.3 billion, and it declined to KRW 15.1 billion in 2022. After that, it recovered to KRW 16.7 billion in 2021 and KRW 17.5 billion in 2022. Last year, its operational profit rose to KRW 19 billion.

Last year, Astellas Pharma Korea's selling and administrative expenses increased to KRW 80.9 billion from KRW 77.7 billion, up by KRW 13.2 billion. This rise included increased commission expenses (up by KRW 6 billion) and advertising and promotional expenses (up by KRW 2 billion). However, the company increased operating profit due to an overall increase in gross profit.


Astellas Pharma Korea's sales growth was brought about by its prostate cancer drug, Xtandi. It is an oral androgen receptor inhibitor (also known as ARTA). Xtandi's sales (according to IQVIA) increased from KRW 43.2 billion in 2023 to KRW 29.1 billion in 2022.

Xtandi's sales surpassed Erleada's KRW 15.9 billion and Xtandi's KRW 19 billion during the same period.

Such marked growth can be attributed to expanded reimbursement. In August 2022, Xtandi was selectively reimbursed for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer accompanied by distant metastasis when used in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Since November of last year, reimbursement has been made regardless of using other androgen synthesis inhibitors.

Xtandi is expected to generate further sales growth following expanded indication for the treatment of nonmetastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (nmHSPC).

With this approval, Xtandi has become the only ARTA that can be applied to all stages of prostate cancer stages following biochemical recurrence, including hormone-sensitive, castration-resistant, non-metastatic, and metastatic stages.

Prograf maintained KRW 90 billion range in sales for three consecutive years…sales growth expected for Xospata and Padcev

While Xtandi has shown significant growth among Astellas products, Prograf, the leading product, has shown a strong presence with sales in the KRW 90 billion range for three consecutive years.

Prograf is known for its indications in organ transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy. Generics were launched after the Prograf patent expired in 2005. However, Prograf still maintains over half of the market share in its ingredient segment.

Prograf's sales peaked at KRW 90 billion range for the first time in 2021, at KRW 91.5 billion, and it is still maintaining sales, generating KRW 90.6 billion in 2022 and KRW 91.4 billion in 2023. In addition, it continues to expand its presence in the competitive rheumatoid arthritis market.

Although the increase in sales was modest, the sales of Xospata (gilteritinib), an acute myeloid leukemia treatment, also contributed to the sales growth.

Last year, Xospata's sales amounted to KRW 4.8 billion, up 63% from KRW 2.9 billion in 2022. This year's sales are anticipated to increase further due to expanded National Health Insurance criteria in March of last year.

Initially, Xospata has been reimbursed with the National Health Insurance as a monotherapy in March 2022. However, it was reimbursed only for patients eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with a maximum limit of four cycles.

However, starting in March of this year, the limitation on eligibility for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and treatment duration have been lifted. As a result, Xospata is reimbursable for all adult patients with FLT3 mutation-positive relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia, in accordance with domestic approval requirements.

With the removal of the previous restrictive reimbursement criteria, treatment access is expected to significantly improve for elderly patients who previously could not benefit from the medication and for those who had no treatment option due to ineligibility for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

It is to be watched whether Astellas Pharma Korea will once again reach its previous highest sales of KRW 290 billion in 2019.

The pharmaceutical industry anticipates that Padcev, the company's new ADC prostate cancer drug, will drive future growth. In February, Padcev passed the Cancer Disease Review Committee (CDRC) of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) and has completed the economic evaluation. It remains to be seen when the drug will be considered for the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) review.

Padcev's sales for last year were only KRW 900 million, but it is already expanding its presence in the global market. When it becomes available with reimbursement, it has the potential to generate steep sales growth.