SK Plasma announced on Sept. 1 that it has begun distributing Revolpag Tablets 75 mg in South Korea, expanding its lineup following the August rollout of 25 mg and 50 mg formulations. This marks the first time a high-dose 75 mg product containing eltrombopag olamine has been made available in the domestic market.
SK Plasma, a blood-products specialist operating under SK Discovery, was established in 2015 after being spun off from SK Chemicals’ plasma fractionation business. The company primarily manufactures and supplies blood-derived pharmaceuticals such as albumin and immunoglobulin.
Stimulating Platelet Production in Bone Marrow
Revolpag is a prescription medication indicated for chronic immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anemia, among other blood disorders.
Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own platelets, causing abnormally low platelet counts that lead to easy bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and, in severe cases, life-threatening hemorrhages. Severe aplastic anemia is a disorder in which bone marrow function declines, preventing adequate production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Eltrombopag, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Revolpag, functions as a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist. By stimulating TPO receptors that regulate platelet generation, the drug promotes the proliferation and maturation of megakaryocytes—the bone marrow cells responsible for producing platelets—thereby raising overall platelet counts.
From GSK Discovery to SK Plasma Generic
Eltrombopag was originally discovered through joint research by U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and U.S.-based Ligand Pharmaceuticals, with GSK subsequently developing the compound as a novel drug. The original brand was launched as Revolade internationally and marketed as Promacta in the United States. In 2015, Novartis acquired GSK’s oncology portfolio, transferring global rights for the original product, which continues to be sold in South Korea as Revolade.
SK Plasma’s Revolpag is a generic equivalent of eltrombopag. By introducing the 75 mg high-dose formulation alongside its existing 25 mg and 50 mg options, SK Plasma aims to streamline administration for patients requiring higher daily doses.
Single-Tablet Convenience and Financial Relief for Severe Aplastic Anemia
Eltrombopag dosages are adjusted based on individual platelet counts and clinical response. In first-line therapy for severe aplastic anemia, the standard starting dose for adults and adolescents aged 12 to 17 is 75 mg administered once daily.
Previously, South Korean patients requiring a 75 mg daily dose had to take one 25 mg tablet and one 50 mg tablet simultaneously. The introduction of Revolpag 75 mg allows patients to satisfy the entire requirement with a single daily tablet.
The single-tablet option also offers cost savings. Under South Korea's National Health Insurance reimbursement system, Revolpag 25 mg is priced at 28,398 won and the 50 mg version at 55,188 won, bringing the combined daily regimen to 83,586 won. The newly approved ceiling price for Revolpag 75 mg is 68,985 won per tablet—reducing daily treatment expenses by 14,601 won, or approximately 17.5%.
"We developed and launched this high-dose option by incorporating feedback from medical professionals and patients in real-world clinical settings," said Kim Seung-joo, CEO of SK Plasma. "We will continue to strengthen our expertise and product portfolio across hematological conditions and actively adopt practical field insights to support patient care."
