Dong-A ST has launched Darbecron, its second-generation anemia treatment biosimilar, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the first commercial rollout of the product in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The South Korean pharmaceutical company announced on October 12 that Darbecron, developed under the project name DA-3880, is now available in the UAE. Local regulatory approval and commercialization are being handled by Julphar, a pharmaceutical company based in the UAE.
Dong-A ST signed a licensing agreement with Julphar in November 2024, granting the company rights to develop and commercialize DA-3880 across 18 MENA countries. Julphar secured marketing authorization for Darbecron in the UAE in June this year and has since completed its local launch.
The UAE debut represents an important step in Dong-A ST’s efforts to expand its international biosimilar business. The two companies plan to pursue additional regulatory approvals and gradually extend sales to other major markets across the MENA region.
Darbecron is a biosimilar based on darbepoetin alfa, a second-generation erythropoiesis-stimulating agent used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease and anemia caused by chemotherapy. Dong-A ST is pursuing market-specific development and commercialization strategies to broaden the product’s global reach.
The company has already established a commercial presence in Japan. In 2014, Dong-A ST signed a licensing agreement with Japan’s Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho (SKK) for the development and marketing of DA-3880 in the Japanese market. The product received manufacturing and marketing approval in 2019 and is sold under the name “Darbepoetin Alfa BS Injection Sanwa.”
Sales in Japan have grown steadily, reaching KRW 16.5 billion in 2024 and KRW 26.7 billion in 2025, demonstrating the product’s established market presence.
Dong-A ST is developing and marketing DA-3880 as a biosimilar to Nesp in Japan, the MENA region and Türkiye, in line with local market conditions and regulatory strategies. In major markets including the United States and Europe, the company is developing the product as a biosimilar to Aranesp.
Dong-A ST said it would continue working with Julphar to secure additional approvals and expand commercialization across the MENA region. The company also plans to advance development activities aimed at entering major global markets, including the United States and Europe.
The UAE launch builds on the product’s commercial track record in Japan and provides a foundation for further international expansion. Through regional partnerships and market-specific strategies, Dong-A ST aims to strengthen its position in the global biosimilar market.
