Journalist

LEE HYO JUNG
  • Dongkook Pharmaceutical Promotes Founder’s Grandson Kwon Byung-hoon to Executive Role
    Dongkook Pharmaceutical Promotes Founder’s Grandson Kwon Byung-hoon to Executive Role Dongkook Pharmaceutical is expected to accelerate its shift toward a third-generation management structure under the company’s founding family. The company said on the 20th that it carried out executive appointments for eight people, including promoting Kwon Byung-hoon, head of a unit and the eldest son of Chairman Kwon Ki-beom, to director (treatment) effective April 1. Born in 1995, Kwon double-majored in policy analysis & management and economics at Cornell University in the United States. He previously worked at Boston Consulting Group, Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Magna Investment, and joined Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s financial planning office in April 2024. Dongkook Pharmaceutical posted record consolidated revenue of 926.9 billion won last year. Operating profit rose 20.1% to 96.6 billion won over the same period, and the market views the company as likely to reach 1 trillion won in annual sales this year. The following is the list of executive promotions. ◇ Executive promotions (effective April 1) △ Yeom Seon-ho, vice president, Health Functional Foods Business Division △ Lee Jae-wook, vice president, Production Headquarters △ Heo Jeong-moo, vice president, Communications Headquarters △ Kang Seong-oh, executive director, ETC Business Headquarters △ Kwon Byung-hoon, director (treatment), Financial Planning Office △ Myeong Chang-hoon, director (treatment), ETC Business Headquarters △ Yoo Ho-myeong, director (treatment), Production Headquarters △ Choi Moon-seok, director (treatment), Sales Management Department* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 17:45:00
  • Celltrion Wins Canada Approval for Stekima Auto-Injector as Pharma, Biotech Updates Roll Out
    Celltrion Wins Canada Approval for Stekima Auto-Injector as Pharma, Biotech Updates Roll Out Celltrion: Stekima Auto-Injector Wins Approval in Canada Celltrion said it has secured additional approval for an auto-injector version of its autoimmune disease treatment Stekima (ustekinumab). The company said March 20 that Health Canada approved Stekima in auto-injector (AI) form, adding two presentations in Canada: 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/1.0 mL. “With Stekima, we have added an AI formulation that the original product does not offer in Canada, completing a full lineup across doses and formulations and further strengthening competitiveness,” Celltrion said. Celltrion said the approval supports its strategy to accelerate its push into the North American market. A company official said demand for self-injection options has been rising in major markets, including North America. “With tailored prescribing now possible based on administration settings and patient characteristics, we plan to respond strategically to needs across diverse clinical sites,” the official said. Celltrion said it also aims to quickly raise market share by leveraging synergies with its existing portfolio built in Canada as it expands its presence in the autoimmune disease market. Protein, Vitamins Added: Koryo Eundan Launches ‘Balance Care Energy Bar’ Koryo Eundan said March 20 it has launched the “Balance Care Energy Bar.” The company said the bar uses ingredients such as peanuts, oats and lentils and is designed for convenient nutrition or as a meal replacement. It contains 7 grams of plant-based protein — about the amount in one egg — and 4 grams of dietary fiber, which the company said is comparable to 1.5 bananas. Koryo Eundan said it also includes 12 vitamins and minerals formulated with premium ingredients from global supplier DSM. The company said each bar contains about 0.19 grams of sugars, positioning it as a low-sugar product. “We planned a bar-type product so people can easily supplement nutrition as outdoor activities increase,” the company said. “It can be used in various situations, such as a meal replacement or a snack before or after exercise.” HK inno.N Partners With Seongnam Mental Health Center for Employee Program HK inno.N said March 20 it will work with the Seongnam Mental Health Welfare Center to run a workplace mental health management program for employees. The company said it held a memorandum-of-understanding ceremony with the center on March 18 to promote employee mental health and prevent job-related stress. HK inno.N said the partnership is part of its ESG efforts in safety and health management. It also cited a revision last year to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s KOSHA GUIDE, which emphasizes preventing job stress through organization-level health promotion programs. Under the agreement, HK inno.N will recruit participants and, starting in April, run a six-week program with 12 sessions. The company said activities will include mental health checkups, meditation and horticulture, aimed at teaching effective ways to manage mental well-being. Seoul National University Hospital Reports 15-Year Benefits After Total Knee Replacement Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) saw major improvements in function and quality of life within six months, and those gains remained above pre-surgery levels up to 15 years later, Seoul National University Hospital said March 20. The hospital said an orthopedic surgery team led by professors Choi Byeong-seon, Noh Doo-hyun and Han Hyeok-su tracked patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for up to 15 years in 1,264 patients ages 50 and older who received TKA between 2005 and 2013. The average age was 68.5, and 93.7% were women. The team analyzed changes from before surgery through six months and at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 years. All measures improved significantly within six months. While patterns differed by indicator afterward, all measures remained higher than pre-surgery levels at 15 years, the hospital said. Disease-specific indicators were relatively stable through about five years. However, the KSFS score — reflecting daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs — showed a clinically meaningful decline between 10 and 15 years after surgery, it said. By age group, patients in their 80s and older had lower physical function scores than younger patients but higher social function scores, which remained elevated over the long term, the hospital said. The findings were published in the latest issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 15:48:00
  • Samsung Biologics shareholders approve third term for CEO John Rim, boosting CDMO push
    Samsung Biologics shareholders approve third term for CEO John Rim, boosting CDMO push Samsung Biologics shareholders on March 20 approved a third term for CEO John Rim, extending his leadership through March 2029 as the company accelerates its contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO, strategy. The company said the meeting, held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon’s Yeonsu district, passed the agenda item to reappoint Rim as an inside director as proposed. Marking Samsung Biologics’ 15th anniversary, Rim said the company would continue efforts to raise shareholder value by enhancing corporate value and to contribute to South Korea’s bio industry and economic development. He said the company carried out structural changes and strategic investments for future growth, adding that it completed a spin-off to establish a governance structure that allows greater focus on the CDMO business, improves transparency and clarifies a shift to a pure-play CDMO model. Samsung Biologics said it will speed up construction of a large-scale CDMO production hub centered on Songdo. With plants 1 through 4 and the recent completion of plant 5, it has secured capacity of 785,000 liters. It is preparing plant 6, with 180,000 liters of capacity, targeting completion in 2027. Once finished, total capacity would reach 965,000 liters. The company also plans to diversify its global supply chain through its Rockville, Maryland, plant with 60,000 liters of capacity. The expansion and increased orders have been reflected in results. Samsung Biologics said it has posted record performance for three consecutive years since 2022 and became the first company in South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech sector to surpass 4 trillion won in annual revenue. After operating profit exceeded 1 trillion won in 2023, the company said it nearly doubled that figure within two years, posting 2025 revenue of 4.557 trillion won and operating profit of 2.0692 trillion won. It aims to top 5 trillion won in revenue this year, the company said. Rim said that during his next three-year term the company plans to expand global production bases, diversify its business portfolio and pursue digital innovation to strengthen its position as a top-tier global bio company. Also approved at the meeting were the reappointment of Vice President Noh Gyun, head of the EPCV Center, and the appointment of Kim Jeong-yeon, a professor at Ewha Womans University Law School, as an outside director and audit committee member. Shareholders also passed amendments to the articles of incorporation reflecting revisions to the Commercial Act, including mandatory cumulative voting, and approved financial statements for fiscal 2025, the company said. Separately, Samsung Epis Holdings, which was spun off from Samsung Biologics in November and serves as a holding company leading the group’s biosimilar business, held its first shareholders meeting on March 20. At the meeting at Songdo Convensia, shareholders approved six agenda items, including approval of the company’s first financial statements, appointments of inside directors and audit committee members, and the cap on directors’ compensation, the company said. Samsung Epis Holdings also appointed Vice President Kim Hyeong-jun, who previously served as head of the management support office at Samsung Bioepis, as a new inside director. Kim Gyeong-a, president of Samsung Epis Holdings, said the company will work to enhance shareholder value by building a long-term growth foundation, including expanding its biosimilar product portfolio and broadening into new drug development. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 13:42:00
  • Study: Poor Gum Health May Raise Risk of Esophageal, Colorectal Cancer
    Study: Poor Gum Health May Raise Risk of Esophageal, Colorectal Cancer Periodontal disease is among South Korea’s most common conditions. National Health Insurance Service data show that, as of 2024, more than 19.5 million people received treatment for periodontal disease, with covered costs totaling about 2.3 trillion won. Against that backdrop, researchers presented findings suggesting that poorer gum health may be linked to a higher risk of certain cancers. Experts note that because the mouth is directly connected to the digestive tract, inflammation from periodontal disease can negatively affect overall health. Park Jae-yong, a professor of gastroenterology at Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, presented an analysis on March 19 at the Korea Press Center in Seoul during the 18th Gum Day event, focusing on the relationship between poor gum health and esophageal cancer. Park said the study was based on a hypothesis that swallowing saliva could repeatedly carry oral inflammation, leading to chronic inflammation and potentially esophagitis. He said the analysis found the risk was about 16% higher among people with tooth loss and about 10% higher among those with periodontal disease. Neglecting oral care, he said, may increase the risk of digestive-tract cancers due to bacteria associated with gum disease. He added that significant associations were also found between esophageal cancer and poor oral hygiene habits, including brushing fewer than three times a day, not brushing before bed, and not using interdental cleaning tools. Separately, speakers cited a 2024 study published in Nature on how gum-disease bacteria can affect the colorectal cancer environment. Kook Joong-ki, a professor in the Department of Oral Biochemistry at Chosun University’s College of Dentistry, said animal experiments showed that a specific bacterium — Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies animalis C2 — can worsen cancer when it reaches the colon. Dongkook Pharmaceutical and the Korean Academy of Periodontology have designated March 24 as Gum Day since 2009 to raise public awareness of periodontal disease and its links to health. This year’s 18th event was held under the theme, “Thorough gum care reduces the risk of digestive-tract cancers.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 15:48:00
  • Korean Biopharma CDMOs Race to Expand Capacity to Lock In Long-Term Clients
    Korean Biopharma CDMOs Race to Expand Capacity to Lock In Long-Term Clients The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market is heating up again as biopharma companies move to expand production capacity to secure long-term clients. Because biologic drug development takes years and customers typically commit volumes for extended periods once a partner is chosen, capacity has become a key battleground. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the global pharmaceutical CDMO market is projected to grow 9.7% annually, to $310.5 billion (465.4395 trillion won) in 2029 from $195.9 billion (293.65 trillion won) in 2024. The institute cited rising R&D costs and increasing complexity in new-drug development, which are pushing drugmakers to outsource more work. CDMO projects are widely seen as long-cycle businesses, often spanning about a decade from early research and development to commercialization. Many programs stay with the same partner from candidate discovery through nonclinical and clinical stages and into commercial production, making it possible to win long-term, repeat business once a contract is secured. Industry expectations are also being shaped by a reshuffling of global biopharmaceutical supply chains. With the U.S. Biosecure Act aimed at curbing reliance on Chinese CDMOs and global drugmakers expanding outsourcing, demand is increasingly turning to Korean companies. The industry says supply-chain diversification by U.S. and European big pharma is structurally expanding order opportunities for Korean CDMOs. Longer-term growth drivers remain clear. The Korea Bio Association estimates that about $400 billion (592 trillion won) worth of drug patents will expire over the next decade. With biologic patent expirations expected to accelerate around 2030, the industry expects continued moves to secure manufacturing facilities and partners in advance. Korean CDMOs are already accelerating expansion. Samsung Biologics is pushing ahead with plans to build a sixth plant at its second Bio Campus in Songdo, Incheon, pending final board approval. After completing its fifth plant, the company secured 785,000 liters of capacity; with the sixth plant, total capacity is projected to reach about 965,000 liters by 2027. The company is also expected to pursue global orders through its Rockville, Maryland, plant with 60,000 liters of capacity. Celltrion has moved aggressively to expand global capacity after acquiring a manufacturing facility in Branchburg, New Jersey, last year. It plans to raise that site’s capacity to 132,000 liters through phased expansion, with the industry expecting synergies with its existing biosimilar lineup. Celltrion also has 250,000 liters of capacity across its Songdo plants 1, 2 and 3, and its cumulative CMO order backlog for the first quarter has already topped 1 trillion won. Lotte Biologics is also speeding construction of the first plant at its Songdo Bio Campus. The facility, designed to produce antibody drugs, is targeted for completion within the year, with commercial production slated to begin in the first half of next year. Once operations ramp up, the company says total capacity, including its Syracuse, New York, plant, is expected to reach about 160,000 liters. A company official said the CDMO business is structured so that once a customer is secured, orders tend to continue over the long term. The current expansion race, the official said, is a “race against time” to lock in growth for the next decade, adding that the key test for Korean CDMOs will be whether they can draw momentum from the U.S. Biosecure Act and the broader supply-chain realignment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 17:54:00
  • South Korean Biotechs to Showcase Alzheimer’s Advances at AD/PD 2026
    South Korean Biotechs to Showcase Alzheimer’s Advances at AD/PD 2026 South Korean biotech companies are heading to a major global meeting with updates on an oral Alzheimer’s drug candidate and artificial intelligence-based brain imaging tools. They aim to accelerate talks with big pharmaceutical companies as they target an Alzheimer’s drug market expected to grow to about 26 trillion won. According to the industry on March 17, the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases International Conference (AD/PD 2026) will be held March 17-21 (local time) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The meeting is a leading conference in the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s fields, drawing more than 5,000 attendees, with next-generation treatment strategies set as a key session theme. Global drugmakers including Novo Nordisk and Eisai are also expected to participate, sharing next-generation pipelines and biomarker strategies and seeking to expand partnerships. Aribio will present progress and data from the global Phase 3 trial (Polaris-AD) of its oral Alzheimer’s candidate AR1001. Polaris-AD is a large study enrolling 1,535 patients with mild to mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease at about 230 clinical sites in 13 countries. The trial design includes 52 weeks of double-blind dosing followed by a 52-week extension period. The company said that of about 500 patients who completed 52 weeks of dosing, more than 95% voluntarily joined the additional one-year extension study, raising expectations for efficacy and safety. The trial is in its final stage, Aribio said. The company plans to announce key topline results in the first half of next year and pursue a New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half. Aribio said AR1001 is designed as a once-daily oral drug, offering greater convenience than injections, and that no ARIA-E/H (brain swelling and brain hemorrhage) side effects commonly seen with antibody therapies have been observed so far in the Phase 3 trial. Neurofit, an AI company focused on brain disease diagnosis and treatment, will showcase a brain imaging analysis portfolio spanning the full lifecycle of Alzheimer’s therapies. At its booth, Neurofit will display its prescription support solution Neurofit AQUA AD Plus, neurodegeneration analysis software Neurofit AQUA, and PET quantitative analysis software Neurofit SCALE PET. Neurofit AQUA AD Plus quantitatively analyzes MRI and PET images to support, in one workflow, patient suitability assessments, side-effect monitoring during treatment, and post-treatment effectiveness analysis. Neurofit will also present two abstracts on Alzheimer’s brain imaging, including deep learning-based segmentation research on ARIA and hemorrhagic lesions in cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and a comparative study of Centiloid analysis. “Interest is growing in imaging analysis for prescribing Alzheimer’s treatments, including Neurofit AQUA AD Plus,” co-CEO Bin Jun-gil said. “We will use this conference to expand strategic partnerships with big pharma and deliver tangible business results.” The Alzheimer’s drug market is seen as a key battleground for next-generation biopharmaceuticals, including antibody therapies, genome-based drugs and brain delivery platforms. In the United States, amyloid beta-targeting antibody treatments such as Eisai and Biogen’s Leqembi (lecanemab) and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla (donanemab) have received approvals, expanding the market. Market growth is also drawing attention. Market Insights forecasts the global Alzheimer’s therapeutics market will grow from about 8.9 trillion won last year to about 26.7 trillion won by 2034.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-16 17:21:00
  • Samsung Bioepis Invests 20 Billion Won in G2GBio to Develop Obesity Drug; Celltrion Leads Japan Shares
    Samsung Bioepis Invests 20 Billion Won in G2GBio to Develop Obesity Drug; Celltrion Leads Japan Shares Samsung Bioepis enters obesity drug development, invests 20 billion won in G2GBio Samsung Bioepis has moved into obesity drug development with a 20 billion won investment in G2GBio. Samsung Bioepis and EpisNex Lab, both subsidiaries of Samsung Epis Holdings, said they signed a joint research and licensing agreement with G2GBio on March 16 to develop obesity treatments. The deal aims to develop long-acting obesity drugs and secure platform technology using G2GBio’s microsphere-based drug-delivery technology. Samsung Bioepis will receive exclusive development rights to two candidates, including a long-acting semaglutide-based obesity treatment, and will pay an upfront fee and development-stage milestones. EpisNex Lab will conduct joint research with G2GBio to build a long-acting drug-delivery platform. The companies also agreed on a right of first negotiation to develop three additional new drug candidates. Financial terms were not disclosed. Samsung Epis Holdings also said it will invest in 20 billion won worth of convertible bonds issued by G2GBio, establishing cooperation that includes both technology collaboration and financial investment. Celltrion keeps No. 1 market share in Japan for cancer drugs including Vegzelma Celltrion said its oncology products are leading the market in Japan, a key pharmaceutical market in Asia, backed by strong prescribing results. IQVIA data show that as of December last year, Vegzelma (bevacizumab), used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer and breast cancer, held a 58% share in Japan. Celltrion attributed the momentum to earlier performance by Herzuma (trastuzumab), a breast and gastric cancer treatment. As of the same period, Herzuma held a 76% share in Japan. Herzuma was first launched in Japan in 2019, and prescriptions have steadily increased since it won approval in August that year for a three-week dosing regimen that extended the dosing interval. Celltrion’s autoimmune disease treatments have also gained ground in Japan. Remsima (infliximab) and Yuflyma (adalimumab) posted shares of 43% and 17%, respectively, the highest prescription volumes among biosimilars, the company said. Celltrion said it expects the performance in Japan to continue. After launching Stekima (ustekinumab) in August last year, it plans to add another autoimmune treatment, Aptozma (tocilizumab), in Japan in the second quarter of this year. Hanmi Science launches balanced nutrition drink for growing children Hanmi Science, the holding company of Hanmi Group, said March 16 it has launched a children’s balanced nutrition drink, TenTen Kids Nutrition, along with its in-house character, Tendungi. The product is designed to balance the three major nutrients needed for children’s growth — carbohydrates, protein and fat — and contains 19 vitamins and minerals, the company said. It also includes EPA and DHA, described as brain components, at about 10% of the daily recommended intake to make daily nutrition easier to consume in a busy routine. Hanmi Science said the drink is formulated with 2 grams of sugar and includes 7 grams of complete protein, making it suitable as a snack or supplement. It uses cocoa powder for a chocolate flavor aimed at improving children’s acceptance for daily use. The company said TenTen Kids Nutrition contains 10 billion postbiotic cells and has received a quality certification for children’s preferred foods. Hanmi Science said it manages everything from ingredient selection to manufacturing under strict quality standards. Dongkook Pharmaceutical wraps dkma symposium, shares total aesthetic solutions Dongkook Pharmaceutical said it held its dkma symposium on March 14 at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul. The symposium was organized to share procedure strategies and combination-treatment know-how that can be used in clinical settings, based on key products from the company’s medical aesthetics brand, it said. In the first session, Lee Yong-haeng, director of Wellga Clinic, served as chair. Ahn Seong-hwan, director of Gangnam Yonsei Line Clinic, presented a strategy using the DCA fat-dissolving injection Millifit to improve submental fat for a smoother facial contour. Kim Geon-woo, director of Cellinic Clinic, shared clinical experience with Madecaiel, discussing synergy between EBD procedures and a skin booster containing Centella asiatica extract and chitosan. In the second session, Yoo Jae-uk, director of Baromi Clinic, served as chair. Lee Dong-jin, director of BLS Clinic, discussed improving facial harmony using HA fillers and botulinum toxin, explaining contour correction through combined procedures using Bellast and Bienox. Jo Chang-hwan, director of Dongan Center Clinic, presented clinical cases of the new product Inhillo under the theme “new possibilities for HA skin boosters.” A Dongkook Pharmaceutical MA marketing official said the company plans to continue strengthening the dkma brand’s expertise and competitiveness through academic exchanges with medical professionals. “Hope it helps children’s treatment” — QWER donates 30 million won to Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital Asan Medical Center said March 16 that QWER donated 30 million won to support pediatric patients. The donation came from proceeds of a flea market the group organized with fans last month. The effort began after QWER was contacted by a child fan hospitalized at the center’s Children’s Hospital, the hospital said. After learning the child’s story, QWER visited the hospital to offer encouragement and spent time with pediatric cancer patients during an art activity. QWER said, “We are grateful that the flea market proceeds prepared with fans can help, even in a small way, with children’s treatment,” adding, “We sincerely hope the children overcome their illness and achieve the dreams they want.” The hospital said it plans to use the funds to improve clinical facilities and the medical environment for pediatric and adolescent patients, and to support home medical care for critically ill children and psychological healing programs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-16 15:57:00
  • Bio CEOs Likely to Win Renewed Terms as Record Results Head Into Shareholder Meetings
    Bio CEOs Likely to Win Renewed Terms as Record Results Head Into Shareholder Meetings Top executives at major South Korean biotech companies including Samsung Biologics, Celltrion and SK Biopharmaceuticals are expected to extend a run of CEO reappointments this year, buoyed by record results posted last year. Analysts say the companies still face major growth tasks, including expanding contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) capacity, building antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) businesses and broadening global new-drug portfolios. Industry officials said March 16 that regular shareholder meetings at Samsung Biologics, Celltrion and SK Biopharmaceuticals are expected to put CEO reappointment items on the agenda. With each company delivering all-time-high performance, the market is largely betting on approvals. Samsung Biologics reported 4.557 trillion won in revenue last year and 2.0692 trillion won in operating profit, putting it within reach of surpassing 5 trillion won in revenue this year. The company roughly doubled operating profit in just two years after first topping 1 trillion won in 2023, results seen as validating its strategy to widen its lead in CDMO. That performance has strengthened the outlook for another term for CEO John Rim. Rim became CEO in December 2020 and won one reappointment at the 2023 shareholders meeting. If the agenda item passes as proposed at the meeting scheduled for March 20, he would begin a third term. Key tasks ahead include rebalancing global capacity around its fifth plant and its Rockville, Maryland, production base; turning its ADC business into visible revenue; and winning orders for a sixth plant. The company has been pursuing new contracts by promoting integrated ADC drug substance and drug product manufacturing since last year, and securing commercial production deals that translate into sales is viewed as a priority. Industry watchers say the effort ties into a longer-term order strategy after the sixth plant begins full operations next year, calling it a potential inflection point for another step up in scale. With labor-management wage talks repeatedly faltering, Rim’s role as a key figure in resolving the dispute has also drawn attention. Celltrion posted record results last year on a consolidated basis, exceeding 4 trillion won in revenue and 1 trillion won in operating profit. Its operating margin reached 36%, easing profitability concerns raised at the time of its merger with Celltrion Healthcare in just one year. The company has set a goal of reaching 5.3 trillion won in revenue in 2026 by reducing reliance on biosimilars and expanding CDMO and new-drug businesses starting this year. Investors are also focused on whether CEO Ki Woo-sung will be reappointed. Industry officials say his chances look strong given his role in driving merger synergies and earnings growth under the integrated Celltrion structure. Still, the shift toward a “post-biosimilar” business model is seen as a work in progress. Celltrion has signaled plans to spin off CDMO into a separate subsidiary and to secure global customers through U.S. facility acquisitions, raising concerns that risks could emerge if order volume and profitability do not follow. SK Biopharmaceuticals has been scaling up quickly on the strength of its epilepsy drug cenobamate, sold in the United States as Xcopri. Revenue rose from 246.2 billion won in 2022 to 354.9 billion won in 2023 and 547.6 billion won in 2024, marking 40% to 50% growth for two consecutive years. With Xcopri’s U.S. sales climbing, the company is seen as having achieved both a return to profitability and a stronger business structure. Last year, it reported 706.7 billion won in revenue and 203.9 billion won in operating profit. The outlook for reappointing CEO Lee Dong-hoon has also improved. The company is pursuing both expanded indications for Xcopri and expansion into Europe and Asia, while accelerating development of central nervous system (CNS) candidates and next-generation platform-based drugs including RPT, TPD and CGT. However, heavy reliance on a single product leaves commercialization of follow-on pipelines and diversification of global partnerships as Lee’s biggest challenges. “Record results may have delivered reappointments, but the next few years will determine whether those renewals were truly earned,” an industry official said. “Each company will have to prove its chosen growth engines by turning them into concrete orders, revenue and profit.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-16 10:21:00
  • Hanmi Pharm Names Hwang Sang-yeon as CEO Candidate, Signaling Possible First Outside Hire
    Hanmi Pharm Names Hwang Sang-yeon as CEO Candidate, Signaling Possible First Outside Hire Hanmi Science, the holding company of the Hanmi Group, is moving to replace the CEO of Hanmi Pharmaceutical and reshape the company’s board. It has nominated Hwang Sang-yeon, head of the private equity division at HB Investment, as a new inside director to succeed CEO Park Jae-hyun, in a bid to stabilize management. If Hwang’s appointment is confirmed after a shareholders meeting scheduled for later this month, Hanmi Pharmaceutical would be led by an externally recruited CEO for the first time since its founding. Hanmi Science and Hanmi Pharmaceutical said they each held board meetings on March 12 and approved an agenda item for Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s shareholders meeting later this month to nominate Hwang as a new director candidate. Hwang is expected to be selected as CEO after the regular shareholders meeting and a subsequent board meeting. Born in 1970, Hwang earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Seoul National University. He previously served as head of the research center at Mirae Asset Securities and as chief investment officer at Allianz Global Investors, and later became CEO of Chong Kun Dang Holdings. In 2025, he joined venture capital firm HB Investment as head (vice president) of its newly established private equity fund unit. The market expects that, with experience in both the biotech industry and capital markets, he will help coordinate complex interests between major shareholders and management and strengthen the company’s competitiveness. Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s current and former CEOs — Lee Kwan-soon, Woo Jong-soo, Kwon Se-chang and Park — were professional managers promoted internally who led the company’s growth over decades. Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s board currently has 10 members: four inside directors — Park Jae-hyun, Lim Jong-hoon, Park Myung-hee and Choi In-young; four outside directors — Yoon Do-heum, Kim Tae-yoon, Lee Young-gu and Yoon Young-kak; and two other non-executive directors — Shin Dong-kuk and Kim Jae-kyo. The terms of five members — Park Jae-hyun, Park Myung-hee, Yoon Young-kak, Yoon Do-heum and Kim Tae-yoon — expire this month. At its meeting, Hanmi Science approved an agenda item to reappoint audit committee member Kim Tae-yoon (outside director) and to nominate Hwang, Kim Na-young, head of Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s new product development division, former lawmaker Chae Yi-bae, and Han Tae-joon, president of Ghent University Global Campus, as new directors. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 18:18:00
  • Samsung Biologics Showcases CDMO Platform at BMA 2026, Wins CMO Award
    Samsung Biologics Showcases CDMO Platform at BMA 2026, Wins CMO Award Samsung Biologics said it used a global biopharmaceutical technology event to promote its contract development (CDO) capabilities and earned recognition for its contract manufacturing (CMO) competitiveness. The company said it took part in the Asia Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference (BMA 2026), held March 11-12 in Singapore. Now in its 13th year, BMA is billed as Asia’s largest biopharmaceutical technology event and is sponsored by global pharma and biotech consulting firm IMAPAC. Organizers said 500 companies and more than 1,200 participants attended. At the conference, Samsung Biologics presented on its high-concentration formulation development platform, S-HiCon, highlighting its CDO technology. Lim Heon-chang, head of the CDO Development Center’s Formulation Development Group, shared key development cases using S-HiCon, along with challenges and how they were addressed, and introduced the company’s main CDO services. Launched in 2024, S-HiCon is designed to help clients develop high-concentration formulations by drawing on Samsung Biologics’ formulation development experience. The company said it has secured nine CDO-related technology platforms to meet a range of needs. These include Developick, a platform to assess development feasibility; S-Choice, an in-house cell line platform; and S-Transient, a transient expression platform for candidate materials. The company said it provides tailored CDO services from early development through investigational new drug (IND) applications. Samsung Biologics also received an award at the ABEA 2026 ceremony held alongside the conference, which it said underscored its CMO competitiveness. ABEA honors companies in the Asia-Pacific region for performance in areas including bioprocessing, logistics and supply chain management, clinical trial expertise, organizational capability and technology over the past year. The company said it won the Bioprocessing Excellence in Korea Award in recognition of its process development capabilities and global-level quality and production systems, which support clients across the full biopharmaceutical development process through end-to-end services. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 13:57:00