Abstract
This study was conducted to improve the current regulation guidelines for developing traditional Korean medicines with effectiveness and productivity, in order to cope with the upcoming ICH on specifications on oriental herbal drugs. Also, major purposes of this study are to motivate R&D and to pioneer foreign markets for domestic herbal drug companies. First, after examining concepts of traditional Korean medicines and comparing the numbers and differentiation of herbal drugs registered on Pharmacopeia among Korea, China, and Japan, the current new drug development requirements for traditional Korean medicines were reviewed in detail, followed by comparison of foreign regulation systems including USA, EU, China, and Japan. Second, empirical cases on failure of development for new traditional Korean medicines under the current regulation system in the domestic companies including Dong-A, Kwangdong, and Samchondang, were collected and analyzed. As a result, hanbangsaengyak, the new category for traditional Korean medicines was newly developed on the basis of scientification of data between saengyak and hanyak, from the perspectives of harmonization between oriental medicine and western medicine and of balance between food and drug, in terms of industrialization, publicity, modernization, and effectiveness of administration. In addition, the new regulation requirements for the new hanbangsaengyak preparations were discussed by establishing principles of reinforcing preclinical test and of simplifying clinical trials in Korea. Finally, the further researches to articulate the complete specifications for pre-clinical and clinical requirements for traditional Korean medicines were strongly suggested.