Boryung will introduce the first generic version of Bayer’s liver cancer therapy Stivarga (regorafenib) to Korea’s reimbursement list in September, directly challenging Chong Kun Dang, which markets the original drug through its partnership with Bayer.

According to industry sources, the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee will review the reimbursement application in writing on August 25.

Stivarga has been reimbursed since 2018 as a second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), often used sequentially with Bayer’s Nexavar (sorafenib). With generics entering the market, Stivarga’s risk-sharing agreement expired on August 1, lowering its price ceiling from $20.36 to $16.26.

Boryung’s generic has been set at $11.05, reflecting 53.55% of the originator price plus a 68% premium granted to “innovative pharmaceutical companies.” The premium remains in place until August 31, 2026.

Competition between Boryung’s generic and Chong Kun Dang’s originator product is expected to heat up. Earlier this year, Chong Kun Dang secured exclusive Korean rights to distribute and market Bayer’s Nexavar and Stivarga, adding to its history of collaborations with Bayer following Ciprobay (2005), Avelox, and Kerendia (2023). In parallel, it expanded its oncology portfolio by co-marketing Neulapeg (pegteograstim) with GC Pharma and continuing sales of its in-house chemotherapy drug Camtobell (belotecan).

Boryung, meanwhile, has steadily strengthened its oncology presence since forming a dedicated team in 2007. Its portfolio now spans nearly 30 products, from chemotherapy to supportive therapies. In 2023, oncology sales reached $157.1 million, making Boryung the South Korean market leader and solidifying the business as its main growth engine.

As Boryung’s generic Stivarga enters reimbursement, rivalry with Chong Kun Dang is set to intensify, positioning both companies at the forefront of Korea’s oncology market.