Easyef (EGF), the world’s first recombinant human epidermal growth factor has acquired the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) of ‘nepidermin’ which identifies a pharmaceutical substance or active pharmaceutical ingredient by a unique name that is globally recognized and is of public property by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are many pharmaceutical substances that are on the market in Korea, but biosimilar products are given INN’s which originate back to the original developer. Daewoong is currently the only pharmaceutical company in Korea whose product has acquired an INN.

The substance name, ‘nepidermin’ has now been registered as the official INN for Easyef (EGF).

The name ‘nepidermin’ was designated following the WHO INN Naming guidelines. ‘Nepidermin’ is a combination of the words “new,” “epithelialization,” and “dermin.”

Jung Joo Kim, a departmental head of Daewoong’s Biotechnology Research Institute has stated that, “the acquisition of an INN has enabled Daewoong to capture more of a global market. In addition, Daewoong will continue to find new indications for usage and will become the number one pharmaceutical company for wound healing products.”
The world’s first recombinant human epidermal growth factor, Easyef (EGF) was first exported to Jordan in 2005 and Vietnam in 2006. There are currently plans to launch the product in China and other parts of Southeast Asia. Additionally, in order to increase Easyef’s indications for usage, clinical trials are being conducted on foot ulcers for diabetic patients, stomatitis, and other various wounds.