Vivozon Pharma's Non-Narcotic Analgesic 'Onapraju' Wins Korea New Drug Development Award

Vivozon Pharmaceutical announced on the 4th that it has won the Grand Prize in the New Drug Development category at the 26th Korea New Drug Development Awards for developing the first-in-class non-opioid analgesic new drug, Onapraju.

From the left, Jang Buhwan, CEO of Vibozone Pharmaceuticals, and Kim Jeongjin, Chairman of the Korea New Drug Development Research Association. Provided by Vibozone Pharmaceuticals

Now in its 26th year, the Korea New Drug Development Awards (KNDA) is the first award ceremony in Korea dedicated to new drug development. Established in 1999 to promote the development of Korea’s biohealth industry, encourage new drug research and development, and honor the achievements of high value-added new drug development companies as well as new technology creation and technology export companies, the awards are organized by the Korea New Drug Development Association and supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Onapraju is a non-opioid analgesic injection used to control moderate to severe acute pain after surgery. It acts through a multi-target mechanism by simultaneously inhibiting Glycine Transporter 2 (GlyT2) and Serotonin Receptor 2a (5HT2a), blocking the transmission of pain signals that occur in multiple ways in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Vivozon Pharmaceutical secured statistical significance for Onapraju in a domestic Phase 3 clinical trial involving patients after laparoscopic colon resection surgery. Subsequently, in December of last year, it obtained marketing approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as Korea’s 38th domestically developed new drug.

Jang Buhwan, CEO of Vivozon Pharmaceutical, said, “Winning the Grand Prize in the new drug development category proves the excellent efficacy and value of Korea’s first innovative new drug, Onapraju. This achievement was possible thanks to the dedication of all employees who have relentlessly pursued innovation and passion in new drug development.”

He added, “We will do our best to establish it as a new alternative for pain treatment through its domestic launch this year.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.