Journalist

Lee Hyo-jeong
  • Samsung Biologics Joins DCAT Week 2026 in New York to Boost Global Contracting
    Samsung Biologics Joins DCAT Week 2026 in New York to Boost Global Contracting Samsung Biologics said March 25 it is taking part in DCAT Week 2026, being held March 23-26 (local time) in New York, to step up global contract-winning efforts. With more than 130 years of history, DCAT Week is a global pharmaceutical and biotech networking event that began in 1890 under the New York Chamber of Commerce. Samsung Biologics has attended the event for 11 consecutive years since 2016, except in 2020 when it was not held because of COVID-19. The company said it set up a dedicated meeting room in a main location at the venue and plans to hold more than 50 business meetings with global drugmakers. CEO John Rim is also attending to discuss strategic partnerships with key industry figures. On the first day of the event, March 23, Kevin Sharp, vice president in charge of sales and operations at the company’s sales center, spoke at a member company presentation forum. Only companies selected through DCAT screening can participate, and just 20 companies were given a chance to present this year. Sharp shared recent results under the theme of expanding production capacity and developing networks, including the acquisition of a plant in Rockville, the purchase of land for a third Bio Campus, an open innovation partnership with Eli Lilly, and a vaccine manufacturing partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI. Samsung Biologics also worked to raise brand awareness. It joined a presentation session on March 24 as a co-sponsor and promoted its CDMO capabilities before and after the session. The company also installed banners and promotional materials at the venue. At DCAT’s main gala dinner on March 26, Samsung Biologics will participate as a sponsor alongside global CDMO companies including Lonza and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The company said it plans to expand networking and build business partnerships with industry leaders attending the dinner. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-25 17:18:00
  • Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin Returns as Shareholder Meeting Chair, Predicts Sales Growth
    Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin Returns as Shareholder Meeting Chair, Predicts Sales Growth Seo Jung-jin, chairman of Celltrion Group, returned to the role of chair at the company’s shareholder meeting for the first time in 11 years, since the 2015 meeting, saying he wanted to explain mid- to long-term responses directly to shareholders as the global business environment shifts rapidly, including the U.S.-Iran war in the Middle East. Seo chaired Celltrion’s 35th annual general meeting of shareholders on the morning of March 24 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon and spoke with shareholders in person. Citing the fast-changing environment, he said, “Our company is export-oriented, so we are not affected by oil prices,” adding, “Since there is no major impact on ongoing business, sales will grow this year as well.” On the stock price, Seo said he does not believe it is “overvalued compared with performance.” Celltrion posted record results last year, with revenue topping 4 trillion won and operating profit exceeding 1 trillion won. This year, it is targeting revenue in the 5 trillion won range. The company also presented a development roadmap for an obesity drug. Seo said Celltrion is developing a fourth-generation obesity treatment and plans to enter Phase 1 clinical trials next year. “The fourth-generation obesity treatment we are developing shows less muscle loss and consistent efficacy, and we are among the leaders in the fourth generation,” he said, adding that clinical development “will move quickly.” Celltrion said it will secure new production capacity, including a major expansion investment of more than 1 trillion won at its Songdo headquarters, to meet demand for its biopharmaceuticals and strengthen global manufacturing competitiveness. The investment will be carried out in stages from this year through 2030 and will expand infrastructure across the Songdo campus in Korea, a U.S. production base and domestic sites. Specifically, it will invest 1.2265 trillion won to expand Plants 4 and 5 simultaneously at its Incheon Songdo campus, bringing total capacity to 180,000 liters. It also finalized an expansion plan for its Branchburg, New Jersey, facility, which is expected to increase capacity to 141,000 liters. “That would make us third in facilities, after Samsung Biologics and Lonza,” Seo said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-24 14:36:00
  • Middle East War Raises Risks for South Korea’s $1B Pharma-Biotech Export Market
    Middle East War Raises Risks for South Korea’s $1B Pharma-Biotech Export Market As the Middle East is shaken by war between the United States and Iran, South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry is bracing for fallout in what it calls a 1 trillion won export market. The region has been a strategic growth hub for high-margin products such as biosimilars and botulinum toxin, and companies with heavier exposure are watching for a threefold hit: shipment disruptions, delayed payments and rising costs. According to foreign media reports and industry officials on the 23rd, the war — sparked by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes — is showing signs of dragging on, putting Korean drugmakers and biotech firms on heightened alert. Companies have expanded exports to the Middle East across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and aesthetic and cosmetic medical products. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute said South Korea’s biohealth exports to the Middle East totaled $1.03 billion (about 1.55 trillion won) last year, the highest on record. Growth has been led by so-called K-beauty and medical products, including biosimilars, botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid fillers. Daewoong Pharmaceutical entered the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, starting with the United Arab Emirates in 2020 with its botulinum toxin product Nabota, and later expanded to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Hugel has increased supplies of Botulax using the UAE and Kuwait as hubs. Medytox’s Neuramis filler and Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Rolontis have also continued exports under supply contracts with local partners. With the U.S.-Iran conflict taking on the shape of a prolonged fight, conditions on the ground are shifting quickly. Disruptions are expected in parts of the region’s sea and air logistics networks, and tensions are spreading to nearby countries, prompting Korean companies to activate contingency plans. Some medical and pharmaceutical firms with bases in Dubai and elsewhere have moved to remote work and reduced business travel for safety, creating unavoidable gaps in local sales and marketing. An industry official said companies can still manage the situation through measures such as adjusting shipping schedules or handling delays, but warned that a prolonged conflict would likely cause damage. The official added that, given the common practice among Middle East buyers of taking time to settle payments after shipment, the burden of managing financial risk could grow. Concerns also extend to global supply chains. South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech sector relies heavily on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients, and a Middle East-driven shock, combined with production disruptions elsewhere, could trigger broader supply instability. Jeong Yun-taek, head of the Korea Pharmaceutical Industry Strategy Research Institute, said South Korea has already experienced the risks of overseas dependence during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing shortages of Tylenol. He said expanding regional risks could disrupt international medicine supply chains. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said the domestic self-sufficiency rate for active pharmaceutical ingredients stood at 25.6% as of 2023. Rising crude oil prices are another concern. If prices climb for basic chemicals such as naphtha, which is essential to synthesizing drug ingredients, manufacturers’ costs can rise directly. A won-dollar exchange rate stuck in the 1,500-won range may help exporters, but it also increases the burden of importing raw materials, raising concerns about negative effects. The government and industry said they are monitoring developments closely and preparing steps to minimize damage. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute and related ministries are tracking export trends to the Middle East and changes in shipping routes and flights, and are reviewing possible support measures if needed. A pharmaceutical company official said the industry is watching for logistics disruptions and weakening local demand after achieving record-high drug export results last year. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-23 18:09:00
  • 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