• First botanical drug product to surpass KRW 600 billion in cumulative sales, with an average growth rate of 7.7% over the past 5 years
• Joins, recognized by Time in 2002, proves its stability and efficacy through consistent prescriptions over 22 years

SK chemicals' Joins, the first botanical drug product developed in Korea, has surpassed KRW 600 billion in cumulative sales since its release in the domestic market in 2002.

SK chemicals announced on the 25th that cumulative sales of Joins Tab (hereinafter referred to as Joins) had surpassed KRW 600 billion. Joins Tab has become the first domestically developed botanical treatment for osteoarthritis to exceed cumulative sales of KRW 600 billion.

Approximately 1.6 billion tablets of Joins have been sold since its release 22 years ago, with over 70 million tablets prescribed annually on average. After achieving cumulative sales of △ KRW 400 billion in 2019 and △ KRW 500 billion in 2022, the growth pace of Joins has accelerated, achieving an additional KRW 100 billion in cumulative sales within two years.

According to IMS data, SK chemicals' Joins recorded sales of KRW 37.9 billion last year. Joins holds the highest market share of the herbal medicinal product in the Symptomatic Slow Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) market, which is valued at approximately KRW 140 billion.

The company attributes its consistent growth over the last 20 years to the proven effectiveness in pain relief and safety, despite being mainly formulated with natural products, compared to traditional anti-inflammatory medications.

This medication has been clinically proven to provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, while also significantly reducing major gastrointestinal side effects such as gastric irritation. Prescription data from over 20 years further support the safety and efficacy of Joins.

Kim Yun-ho, CEO of the Pharma Business Division at SK chemicals, stated, “Joins has made a significant imprint on the pharmaceutical industry's R&D history, particularly during a time when the concept of botanical drugs was unfamiliar. Additionally, Joins has contributed to the nation's joint health for decades.” He further added, “Leveraging our experience, expertise, and technological capabilities in the field of botanical drugs and osteoarthritis, we are committed to enhancing our competitiveness in related markets.”

Joins is an osteoarthritis treatment formulated with three main herbal ingredients, Clematis Radix, Trichosanthes Root, and Prunella Spike, selected through scientific screening from over 600 natural substances for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. At the time of its release, Time magazine stated in its June 10, 2002 cover article that, “Joins has established itself as a new alternative to Western medicine supported by scientific and methodical validation of its effectiveness.”

Photo description: SK chemicals' arthritis treatment Joins has surpassed cumulative sales of KRW 600 billion. President Ahn Jae-hyun (first on the right) and Kim Yun-ho, CEO of the Pharma Biz (second on the left), along with SK chemicals members, are cutting a celebratory cake

Glossary - SYSADOA (Symptomatic Slow Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis): A medication for arthritis treatment that relieves symptoms and inhibits the disease progression over a long period.