Sam-il Pharmaceutical announced on the 27th that “Afilivu,” a macular degeneration treatment for which sales resumed in December, has rapidly gained a foothold in the market. Since sales resumed, the product has recorded cumulative sales of KRW 1.6 billion to date.

“Afilivu” had its sales halted in early 2025 due to a patent dispute with Regeneron, but domestic distribution was normalized in December of the same year following a court decision to cancel the preliminary injunction on its sale. The ruling is viewed as securing lawful market entry as well as supply stability.

Afilivu (ingredient name: aflibercept) is a biosimilar to “Eylea,” a macular degeneration treatment developed by Samsung Bioepis. Sam-il Pharmaceutical has an exclusive domestic distribution and sales agreement for the product.

The active ingredient in Afilivu, aflibercept, inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to prevent abnormal blood vessel growth inside the eye. By blocking VEGF, it slows or reduces retinal damage and thereby preserves vision. Macular degeneration is a disease in which the macula, the neural tissue at the center of the retinal area of the eye, is damaged by aging, inflammation, and other factors, causing visual impairment; in severe cases it can lead to blindness, and ongoing treatment entails a significant financial burden for patients.

According to market research firm IQVIA, the domestic market size for Eylea is approximately KRW 87 billion. Competition has recently intensified with the launch of a pre-filled syringe type. A pre-filled syringe is a product in which the drug is preloaded into the syringe, improving convenience in administration.

Samsung Bioepis has also developed a pre-filled syringe type, which is expected to be introduced to the domestic market as early as the first quarter through Sam-il Pharmaceutical.

A Sam-il Pharmaceutical official stated, “Since the resumption of Afilivu sales, revenue has been recovering faster than expected,” adding, “With the launch of the pre-filled syringe type accelerating prescription growth, the product’s position in the Eylea biosimilar market will be further strengthened.”

The official added, “With the resumption of Afilivu sales this year and robust performance in the CNS (central nervous system) business, we expect to achieve meaningful company-wide earnings growth.”

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