- All 5 types licensed, to be released in September

- Same effect even after reducing Fentanyl 

- Compliance increase thanks to safety and convenience


On May 31, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (President Lee Jong Wook) obtained a sales license from KFDA for a patch type narcotic analgesic "Matrifen" (Fentanyl ingredient). All five types (12μg/h, 25μg/h, 50μg/h, 75μg/h, 100μg/h) were licensed to be sold from September.

Developed by Nycomed, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, Matrifen is a patch-type narcotic analgesic that is currently sold in 13 European countries, including the UK, Germany and France. Notably, it applies the patented Microreservoir technology, which has the same effect even after Fentanyl is reduced by 35%. It reduces the side effect of vomiting, and enhances compliance thanks to the smaller patch size. 

The size of the domestic market for patch-type narcotic analgesics is about 20 billion won, showing a 25% annual increase. A total of 80% are used for cancer patients with cancer pain. Daewoong Pharmaceutical aims to achieve 10 billion sales by 2014.
As Kim Tae Jin PM commented, "Controlling pain is as important as anticancer treatments. For this reason, the licensing of Matrifen expands the options for patients. We shall release it as soon as possible to help patients."