AstraZeneca Q1 2026 Earnings Surge on Strong Oncology and Rare Disease Drug Sales 
Italy Investigates Microsoft Over Microsoft 365 AI Subscription Price Hike 
Trump Orders DOJ Investigation Into Exxon, Chevron Over High Gas Prices 
China Eastern Orders 25 Airbus A330neo Jets in $9.35 Billion Deal to Boost International Expansion 
RFK Jr. Expands CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel's Scope Amid Legal Battles 
CDC Monitors U.S. Travelers After Hantavirus Outbreak on Luxury Cruise Ship 
Doncasters Raises $919 Million in NYSE IPO as Aerospace Growth Accelerates 
SK Hynix Moves Closer to New York ADR Listing Amid AI Chip Boom 
Bayer Wins Major U.S. Supreme Court Roundup Lawsuit, Shares Surge 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Nomura Stock Upgraded to Buy by BofA as Stronger ROE and Earnings Growth Boost Outlook 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Novo Nordisk Raises 2026 Outlook on Strong Wegovy Demand 
US Judge Seeks Explanation for DOJ’s Decision to Drop Gautam Adani Bribery Case 
SK Biopharmaceuticals, the South Korean pharmaceutical giant, projects $1 billion in U.S. sales by 2029 for its flagship anti-epilepsy treatment, Xcopri. The firm, combating a sales decline in 2020, hopes this drug will bolster its financial turnaround, positioning it as a global biotech leader.
Xcopri, or cenobamate, is a medication developed by SK Biopharmaceuticals and its U.S. subsidiary SK Life Science for treating partial-onset seizures in adults. It was approved for medical use in the U.S. at the end of 2019 and in Europe in 2021. In Europe, it is marketed under the brand name Ontozry.
The total prescriptions (TRx) for Xcopri, a key metric used in the pharmaceutical industry to measure a medicine's launch performance, have reached 22,000 monthly in the U.S. market this year. This number is projected to grow to 30,000 per month next year, establishing Xcopri as a leading anti-epilepsy treatment in the U.S. Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals, said they anticipate U.S. sales for Xcopri to break even by the end of this year and to reach $1 billion by 2029 and skyrocket to $3.5 billion by 2032.
In 2020, SK Biopharmaceuticals reported a significant decline of 50.8% in sales, amounting to 456.7 billion won ($362 million). However, Xcopri, with a gross profit margin of 90%, is expected to contribute to the company's financial growth.
The CEO emphasized the valuable stability that Xcopri will bring to the company's future revenue streams, allowing for an expansion of SK Biopharmaceuticals' business portfolio to become a global biotech platform company.
Lee stated that the company would enhance its therapeutic modalities, focusing on radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT), a groundbreaking approach that delivers radiation therapy directly to cancer cells. SK Biopharmaceuticals aims to secure rights for radioisotope supply, which is crucial for RPT medications, through collaboration with TerraPower, a U.S. venture founded by Bill Gates that specializes in small-sized nuclear power reactors. Lee highlighted the significance of the cell and gene therapy sector as another key area of focus for SK Biopharmaceuticals moving forward.
In addition, SK Biopharmaceuticals will strengthen its targeted protein degradation (TPD) platform. This effort follows the recent acquisition of Proteovant Therapeutics, a U.S. biotech company with advanced TPD technology that can effectively target disease-causing proteins.
As the company expands its capabilities and ventures into new territories, it aims to position itself as a global biotech leader with a unique business model, transitioning from a single asset-based company to a comprehensive powerhouse.
Photo: Hal Gatewood/Unsplash
