South Korea-based Boryung has completed its global business acquisition of Taxotere, the original docetaxel-based cytotoxic anticancer drug, from French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, in a deal valued at up to approximately €170 million (€279.6 billion won), officially commencing global sales of the product from this month, according to The Asia Business Daily.

The acquisition, finalised from a contract signed last year, grants Boryung full global business rights for Taxotere across 19 countries and regions, including South Korea, China, Germany, Spain, Latin America, and the Middle East, covering sales, distribution, regulatory approval, manufacturing, and trademark rights.

Sungjin Kim, Chief Strategy Officer of Boryung, said: "The acquisition of the Taxotere business is not simply the purchase of an old anticancer product. We clearly identified opportunities in both supply and demand, and Boryung has transformed into a company that directly oversees the approval, quality, production, and distribution of globally essential anticancer drugs."

The transaction marks the first time a Korean pharmaceutical company has acquired the entire original anticancer drug business from a global pharmaceutical company and directly launched global sales, a significant milestone for South Korea's pharmaceutical industry.

Taxotere received European approval in 1995 and US FDA approval the following year, and is indicated across seven cancer types including breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, and head and neck cancer. Docetaxel is listed as a WHO essential medicine.

Boryung previously acquired the domestic businesses of Gemzar in 2020 and Alimta in 2022, and the Taxotere acquisition completes its entry into the global cytotoxic anticancer drug market.

Access the complete report for further detail on Boryung's Taxotere acquisition and global sales strategy.