[THE INVESTOR] A number of local pharmaceutical firms are due to release new medications to treat high blood pressure in the local market later this year, industry sources said on Aug. 31.

Noticeably, a number of drugs for hypertension are expected to hit the market as most people with high blood pressure need to take two or more types of medicine to lower it, they said.

“There are many cases when a patient does not control his or her high blood pressure enough with a single medication, leading to high demand for combo drugs,” an industry source said.

The domestic market for antihypertensive drugs stands at over 1.2 trillion won (US$1.07 billion), the source said, adding that the market share of combo drugs is also expected to increase.

CJ HeathCare will roll out the company’s first combo drug for hypertension in September, they said. And Boryung Pharmaceutical one of South Korea’s largest pharmaceutical companies, said it plans to release a new hypertension drug with triple medication effect.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)