S. Korean firm approved to sell hepatitis drug in Philippines

SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- Bukwang Pharmaceutical Co., a South Korean drugmaker,
said Friday it has won approval from the Philippine health authorities to sell
its hepatitis drug in the Asian country.
The approval is expected to help Bukwang expand sales of its hepatitis B
medication, named "Levovir," in other Asian nations such as Thailand and
Malaysia, company officials said.
"Health authorities in Thailand and Malaysia are expected to give their approval
to sell the drug by the end of this year," said an official at Bukwang.
Bukwang expected to receive sales approvals in Indonesia and other nations during
the first-half of next year, the official said.
On the news, shares of Bukwang jumped 8.1 percent to 17,350 won (US$11.1) at one
point in afternoon trading on the Seoul bourse.
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