LG Chem, Korea’s leading chemical company, announced Thursday that it has begun the global expansion of its new diabetes combination drug Zemidapa, marking its first export milestone with a launch in Thailand.
To kick off the launch, the company hosted the “Zemi-Connect Global” symposium in Bangkok, attended by over 120 endocrinologists from Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. The event was held alongside the International Diabetes Federation 2025 Congress, where LG Chem was a main sponsor.
Zemidapa is a combination therapy that brings together Zemiglo — Korea’s first domestically developed DPP-4 inhibitor — and the SGLT-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin.
LG Chem prioritized the Thai market due to its direct sales infrastructure and the rapid growth of the local combination drug segment. According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA MIDAS, the total market for the two inhibitors in Thailand is estimated at approximately 250 billion won ($178.7 million), with the combination drug segment growing at an average annual rate of 36 percent over the past three years.
The company plans to leverage existing sales networks for Zemiglo and Zemimet, which together hold a 13 percent share of Thailand’s DPP-4 segment, to generate business synergy and broaden prescription options. It also aims to enhance academic marketing and expand its local customer network.
“The demand for effective treatments for young-onset diabetes is growing in Thailand,” said Hwang In-cheol, head of LG Chem’s primary care business division. “We expect Zemidapa to meet this need and will expand into ASEAN and Latin American markets including the Philippines, Mexico and Brazil.”
hyelimchung@heraldcorp.com
