[Sponsored Report] Rewarding innovation, serving Korean society

Boehringer Ingelheim Korea contributes to many social causes.

Boehringer Ingelheim Korea recorded net sales of approximately 143.9 billion won with a growth rate in the 30 percent range in 2008. Since its foundation in 1976, the Korean unit of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group has supplied innovative products in prescription medicine, consumer health care, and animal health. Recently, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea launched Antistax for trophedema and the constipation drug Dulcolax Balance.

This year, BIK is investing 17.7 percent (about 22 billion won) of its domestic net sales in R&D. The company’s current projects include an ARB+CCB compound for hypertension treatment and an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate), which recently gained global attention because of its possible superiority to Warfarin. Treatments for lung and ovarian cancer are also undergoing clinical trials, as is a drug for hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Boehringer Ingelheim Korea values harmonious labor-management relations based on shared business information and mutual trust. Since 1988, when its labor union was launched, there has never been a major dispute. The company created the Wunsch Medical Award to identify and recognize doctors’ remarkable achievements and it sponsors the Seoul Traditional Artist Award.

The firm has also introduced innovative medicines in to treat central nervous system and respiratory disorders. Micardis for hypertension, Spiriva for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Mirapex for Parkinson’s disease and restless leg syndrome are its core brands. Micardis records the highest sales in Korea, and Spiriva is the top global seller.

The firm invests extensively in research. Provided by the company

By Lee Ji-hyun [concordia@joongang.co.kr]
Micardis is strong in high tissue concentrations and lasts the longest in the ARB class. It was clinically proven to reduce pressure over just 24 hours.

Spiriva is the first inhaled anticholinergen to see significant and sustained improvements in lung function with a once-a-day dose. Mirapex® is a symptomatic treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s.

The company has also introduced various categories of consumer health drugs (OTC). Boehringer’s OTC sales are growing though the local market is struggling.

Globally, Boehringer Ingelheim invests 20 percent of its ETC sales every year and focuses on seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular disease, CNS disease, metabolic disease, immunology and inflammatory disease, cancer, respiratory disease and viruses. The company has also expanded into anticoagulants, cancer treatment and women’s health care.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates all over the world, with 138 affiliates in 47 countries.