New 'Easy Tab' version highlights formulation innovation amid intensifying competition in bowel prep market
Pharmbio Korea is making a bold move to outpace generic competitors with the launch of a smaller version of its bowel cleansing agent, OraFang Easy Tab.
According to industry sources on June 30, the new formulation is gaining attention for its significantly reduced size and thickness compared to the original product. This advancement showcases Pharmbio Korea’s commitment to continuous innovation and technological refinement.
Since the launch of OraFang Tab in 2019—a tablet version of an oral sulfate solution (OSS)—the company has recorded steady growth. Audit data submitted to the Financial Supervisory Service show sales rising from $54.5 million in 2019 to $89.1 million in 2024. OraFang Tab alone grew into a product with annual sales exceeding $14.6 million within three years of its launch by addressing the taste and discomfort issues of traditional liquid-based bowel preparations.
In March, Pharmbio Korea received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for the follow-up product, OraFang Easy Tab. The original 바카라사이트 기가s measured 17.2 mm by 8.2 mm, with a thickness of 6.4 mm. The new Easy Tab reduces all dimensions to 7.6 mm, with thickness trimmed to 4.9 mm.
An industry official noted, “This significantly smaller tablet is particularly beneficial for elderly patients, making it easier to swallow. The Easy Tab is roughly a quarter the size of the original.”
The pharmaceutical industry has taken note of the technical difficulty and achievement in reducing 바카라사이트 기가 size while preserving efficacy.
A quality assurance expert from a Korean pharmaceutical firm explained, “Compressing a tablet involves combining active ingredients with excipients to bind the powder. To reduce the size, excipients must be minimized while still maintaining tablet integrity. This process requires precise formulation and years of iterative development.”
A GMP specialist and former production head at a major pharmaceutical company emphasized the importance of managing bulk density—a critical parameter in tablet formulation.
“Bulk density refers to the mass of a powder divided by the volume it occupies, including spaces between particles,” he explained. “Low bulk density means the material is bulky. To compress the formulation into a smaller tablet, Pharmbio Korea had to reformulate with excipients that increase density, without compromising therapeutic efficacy. That kind of optimization takes sustained R&D effort.”
Bulk density refers to the mass of a powder or granular substance (such as rice or pharmaceutical ingredients) divided by the total volume it occupies, including the spaces between particles when poured into a container. For example, when measuring a cup of rice, the calculation includes the air gaps between grains.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, bulk density is a key parameter. It influences the choice of excipients, compression force, and equipment settings. Data on bulk density are essential for optimizing the manufacturing process. Additionally, in drug formulation, both bulk density and tapped density (which measures how densely a powder can be packed) are used to evaluate how well a 바카라사이트 기가 will dissolve in the body.
He further noted the importance of angle of repose, a measure of how powders naturally pile up, which is linked to flowability—another crucial factor in tableting efficiency.
“During compression, granules must flow consistently into the die cavity. If powder flow is poor, weight variation and tablet defects increase. Pharmbio Korea’s innovation required precise control of flowability, density, and formulation properties.”
Industry experts view the Easy Tab launch as a strategic response to growing competition. As larger firms have begun entering the bowel prep tablet market—some offering fewer pills to challenge OraFang Tab’s 28-tablet regimen—Pharmbio Korea is countering with a more compact version to retain its edge and offer broader patient options.
An industry insider concluded, “The market is shifting from liquids to tablets due to patient preference. Pharmbio Korea’s move not only keeps it ahead of latecomers but also reaffirms its leadership in formulation innovation.”