What Kuhnil Pharmaceutical does

Kuhnil Pharmaceutical (건일제약) is a privately held South Korean pharmaceutical company founded in 1992 with headquarters in Seoul and a manufacturing facility in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. The company develops and commercializes branded pharmaceutical products across three core therapeutic areas: cardiovascular (dyslipidemia treatments led by omega-3 based products such as Omacor, Rosumega, and Atomega), central nervous system (sleep disorder treatments including Sukaardin/Secardin and the pediatric insomnia product Slenyto Mini SR), and gastrointestinal/digestive health.

The company's differentiation rests on its proprietary Multi-Layer Capsule Coating Technology (MLCCT), a platform that enables interaction-free combination of multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients within a single soft capsule, improving drug stability, safety, and patient compliance for chronic disease regimens. MLCCT underpins the company's pipeline of improved new drugs and is supported by registered patents (KR 1335365 for Rosumega, KR 1695970 for Xperidin). Strategic in-licensing agreements with Mochida Pharmaceutical (Epadel/EPA) and Neurim Pharmaceuticals (Slenyto pediatric insomnia) complement internal R&D.

Kuhnil operates a Contract Sales Organization (CSO) distribution model in Korea, deploying 133 trained CSO sales professionals as of September 2025 to reach hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Domestic revenue is generated primarily through pharmaceutical product sales reimbursed under Korea's National Health Insurance system, augmented by co-selling arrangements (notably with Yeongjin Pharmaceutical for Rosumega) and licensing income. Group structure includes affiliated operating subsidiaries Penmix, Osong Farm, and Kuhnilbiopharm. Leadership comprises Representative Director Lee Han-guk alongside newly appointed Co-Representative Director Moon Hee-seok, with refreshed heads across Medical, Marketing, and Business Development headquarters.

Name

Kuhnil Pharmaceutical

Legal name

Kuhnil Pharm. Co., Ltd.

Website

https://kuhnil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kuhnil Pharmaceutical is a privately held South Korean drug maker founded 1992 that develops cardiovascular, CNS, and gastrointestinal medicines using its proprietary Multi-Layer Capsule Coating Technology, distributing them domestically through a 133-person CSO sales network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• Branded pharmaceuticals
• Soft capsule formulations
• Cardiovascular therapeutics
• CNS therapeutics
• Contract sales organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Kuhnil Pharmaceutical generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of branded pharmaceutical products across therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, central nervous system, and digestive health. Products are sold through CSO (Contract Sales Organization) channels and direct medical representative networks in the Korean domestic market, with licensing and co-development arrangements contributing additional revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kuhnil Pharmaceutical develops, manufactures, and sells branded pharmaceutical products in South Korea, focusing on cardiovascular (dyslipidemia/omega-3), central nervous system (sleep disorder), and digestive health therapeutics delivered through proprietary soft capsule formulations. The company sells its portfolio to Korean hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies via its CSO sales force, and supplements its branded pipeline with domestic licensing of partner products such as Epadel and Slenyto Mini SR.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kuhnil: Core pharmaceutical brand for cardiovascular, neurological, and digestive medications

Products and services

• Omaco Soft Capsule (오마코 연질캡슐) Omega-3 fatty acid soft capsule for dyslipidemia (elevated lipid levels) treatment, sold in the Korean cardiovascular market.
• Rosumega (로수메가 연질캡슐) Improved omega-3 soft capsule formulation for dyslipidemia treatment leveraging Kuhnil's Multi-Layer Capsule Coating Technology, covered by registered patent KR 1335365.
• Atomega Soft Capsule 5/1000mg (아토메가 연질캡슐) Improved omega-3 combination soft capsule for dyslipidemia treatment using Kuhnil's proprietary Multi-Layer Capsule Coating Technology.
• Omaco Mini Soft Capsule 2g (오마코미니 연질캡슐 2g) Smaller-format omega-3 soft capsule for dyslipidemia patients who have difficulty swallowing larger capsules.
• Secardin / Sukaardin (서카딘 서방정 2mg) Sustained-release sleep disorder tablet marketed under the Sukaardin/서카딘 서방정 2mg trade name for insomnia treatment.
• Slenyto Mini Sustained-Release Tablets 1mg and 5mg (Melatonin) (슬리나이토 미니 서방정) Korea's first pediatric insomnia treatment, containing prolonged-release melatonin, marketed to children and adolescents aged 2–18 with insomnia associated with autism spectrum disorder or Smith-Magenis syndrome.
• Xperid Acid (엑스페리드산) Improved iron poisoning treatment formulation, covered by registered patent KR 1695970.
• Pulmican (풀미칸) Asthma treatment medication sold through the Korean domestic market.
• Amoclane Dry Syrup (아모크라네오 건조시럽) Antibiotic combination dry syrup formulation for infectious disease treatment in the Korean market.
• Biople 250 Capsule (비오플 250캡슐) Gastrointestinal therapeutic capsule listed in Kuhnil's digestive system (소화기계) product category.
• Epadel (에파델) High-purity EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) formulation licensed from Japan's Mochida Pharmaceutical, with Kuhnil holding domestic Korean licensing rights.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dankook University College of Pharmacy (단국대학교 약학대학)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2023Kuhnil Pharmaceutical signed a comprehensive MOU with Dankook University College of Pharmacy covering talent cultivation through lectures, factory visits, and internship programs; R&D cooperation including joint research, information sharing, and facility sharing. The agreement aims for long-term strategic cooperation rather than a one-time MOU, focusing on pharmaceutical development talent and technology cooperation.
• Yeongjin Pharmaceutical (영진약품)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKuhnil Pharmaceutical and Yeongjin Pharmaceutical entered into a co-selling agreement for the dyslipidemia treatment 'Rosumega' (로수메가). This strategic partnership enables both companies to leverage their respective sales networks and market presence to maximize coverage and penetration of the Korean cardiovascular pharmaceutical market.
• Mochida Pharmaceutical (모치다제약)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerKuhnil Pharmaceutical entered into a licensing agreement with Mochida Pharmaceutical for the high-purity EPA formulation 'Epadel' (에파델). Kuhnil obtained domestic licensing rights for this product in the Korean market.
• Neurim Pharmaceuticals (이스라엘 Neurim)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerKuhnil Pharmaceutical holds exclusive domestic development rights and sales rights for 'Slenyto Mini SR' (슬리나이토 미니서방정), Israel's Neurim's pediatric insomnia treatment. This is Korea's first pediatric insomnia treatment, developed specifically for children and adolescents aged 2-18 with autism spectrum disorder or Smith-Magenis syndrome.
• Penmix (펜믹스)minorOthersAffiliated company. Penmix is listed as an affiliate site on Kuhnil Pharmaceutical's website footer, indicating a corporate group relationship.
• Osong Pharma (오송팜)minorOthersAffiliated company. Osong Pharma is listed as an affiliate site on Kuhnil Pharmaceutical's website footer, indicating a corporate group relationship.
• Kuhnil Biopharma (건일바이오팜)minorOthersAffiliated company. Kuhnil Biopharma is listed as an affiliate site on Kuhnil Pharmaceutical's website footer, indicating a corporate group relationship.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Yuhan Corporation: Largest Korean pharmaceutical company with broad therapeutic portfolio and proprietary R&D capabilities. Comparable to Kuhnil as a Korean branded pharma, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple therapy areas.
• Green Cross Corporation: Korean established pharmaceutical company with diversified portfolio including plasma products and specialty therapeutics. Comparable to Kuhnil as a Korean mid-to-large pharma with branded products, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Mochida Pharmaceutical: Japanese specialty pharma with EPA-based cardiovascular franchise (Epadel), which is the basis of Kuhnil's in-licensing deal. Comparable in therapeutic specialization (cardiovascular/lipid management) and product technology overlap.
• Amarin Corporation: US-listed pure-play in omega-3-based cardiovascular pharmaceutical (Vascepa/icosapent ethyl) for dyslipidemia. Closely comparable to Kuhnil's omega-3 lipid franchise in product category, though globally focused and much larger.

Direct peers

• Ildong Pharmaceutical: Korean specialty pharma with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and CNS therapeutic coverage. Comparable to Kuhnil in scale, therapeutic mix, and Korean domestic distribution orientation.
• Dong-A ST: Korean specialty pharma with branded pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas including GI and cardiovascular. Similar profile to Kuhnil in product mix and Korean market focus, though at a larger scale.
• Boryung Pharmaceutical: Korean pharmaceutical company with established cardiovascular franchise including Kanarb (hypertension). Comparable to Kuhnil in cardiovascular focus and Korean market positioning, though Boryung is larger and publicly listed.
• Daewoong Pharmaceutical: Major Korean specialty pharmaceutical company with diversified portfolio including cardiovascular and gastrointestinal products. Directly comparable to Kuhnil in therapeutic area overlap and Korean mid-market positioning.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Korean specialty pharma with strong cardiovascular and metabolic disease franchises and proprietary drug delivery technologies. Closely comparable to Kuhnil in therapeutic focus, technology-driven differentiation, and domestic Korean distribution.
• JW Pharmaceutical: Korean specialty pharma with cardiovascular, CNS, and gastrointestinal products. Similar mid-sized Korean specialty pharma profile with branded generics and selected innovator products comparable to Kuhnil's mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kuhnil_pharm?igsh=MWJqaDVpYXN5amdieQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kuhnil Pharmaceutical