Health · Pharma & Biotech · 1 day ago
Three South Korean P-CAB drugs expand sales and overseas plans
Three stomach drugs developed by South Korean companies are competing in the market for medicines that reduce stomach acid.
The drugs are K-CAB, launched in 2019; Fexuclue, launched in 2022; and Zaqbo, launched in 2024.
They belong to a newer drug class called P-CAB, which tends to work faster than older PPI medicines and does not need to be taken before meals.
Domestic sales of P-CAB drugs were about 100 billion won in 2021 and are forecast to exceed 400 billion won this year, in a stomach-acid medicine market estimated at about 1 trillion won.
K-CAB leads the three in prescription sales, while Zaqbo passed Fexuclue in April, according to the article.
The companies are also seeking growth overseas: K-CAB has entered 20 countries, Fexuclue nine and Zaqbo is preparing to launch in India after receiving approval there in August.
K-CAB has been submitted for US approval, which its maker expects could come as early as next year; Fexuclue is expected to launch in China soon, and Zaqbo's maker is preparing a US phase 3 trial.
Three Korean-developed potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs)—K-Cab, Fexuclue and Zastap—are competing in the market for medicines that suppress stomach acid.
The products were launched in 2019, 2022 and 2024, respectively, and their combined domestic sales are forecast to exceed 400 billion won this year.
P-CABs generally take effect faster than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and can be taken without regard to meal times, according to the article.
K-Cab leads the three products in prescription sales and has six approved indications; Zastap overtook Fexuclue in April in the prescription-sales trend reported by the article.
The companies are expanding overseas: K-Cab has entered 55 countries, Fexuclue 30 and Zastap 27, with progress toward launches in China, India and the United States.
- Who
- HK inno.N, Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Onconic Therapeutics
- What
- Competition among three Korean-developed P-CAB stomach-acid medicines and their overseas expansion
- When
- October 10, 2026
- Where
- South Korea and overseas markets
- Why
- The companies are seeking growth in the stomach-acid medicine market, where P-CABs may replace PPIs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
HK inno.N launched K-Cab.
Domestic sales of P-CAB medicines were about 100 billion won.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical launched Fexuclue.
Onconic Therapeutics launched Zastap.
Domestic P-CAB sales are forecast to exceed 400 billion won, and HK inno.N has applied to the US FDA for approval of K-Cab.
- Products and companies
- K-Cab — HK inno.N; Fexuclue — Daewoong Pharmaceutical; Zastap — Onconic Therapeutics
- Forecast domestic P-CAB sales
- More than 400 billion won in 2026
- Estimated total stomach-acid medicine market
- About 1 trillion won
- Countries entered
- K-Cab: 55; Fexuclue: 30; Zastap: 27
- US regulatory progress
- HK inno.N applied to the FDA for K-Cab approval in January 2026; Onconic is preparing a Phase 3 trial of Zastap in the United States.
Sources
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