Journalist

Park boram
  • South Korea to Help K-Beauty Firms Enter Halal Cosmetics Market With Ingredient Database
    South Korea to Help K-Beauty Firms Enter Halal Cosmetics Market With Ingredient Database South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Thursday it will step up a “halal cosmetics certification support” program as the global market for halal beauty products expands. Halal cosmetics are products certified as produced, processed and distributed in line with Islamic law for use by Muslims. The market is projected to grow to $129 billion in 2027 from $84 billion in 2022, the ministry said. With regulations tightening in major countries — including Indonesia’s move to require halal certification labeling — differing standards by country have added to the burden on small and midsize companies, the ministry said. To help, the ministry plans to select 30 companies preparing for halal certification and provide tailored on-site consulting. It will also run hands-on training courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels twice a year, and hold seminars with invited overseas experts to share policy changes and the latest trends in key export markets. The ministry said it will produce and distribute country-by-country halal certification guides for major Middle Eastern markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. In key export markets including Indonesia, it plans to support expanded mutual recognition agreements, or MRAs, between local certification bodies and private certification organizations in South Korea. The ministry said some smaller firms have abandoned certification because they lacked information and struggled to obtain documentation from suppliers for the many ingredients used in cosmetics. To reduce that burden, it will provide information on about 4,000 halal-compliant ingredients based on Indonesian regulations and build a database integrating halal-certified ingredients, company information and halal regulatory information for 10 major countries. It also plans to offer an AI-based “cosbot” search service using the database. “We will expand support so domestic cosmetics companies can respond effectively to changes in the global regulatory environment and enter the growing halal market smoothly,” the ministry said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 13:51:14
  • HLB Group to Hold 2026 HLB Forum to Review Drug Pipeline, Strategy
    HLB Group to Hold 2026 HLB Forum to Review Drug Pipeline, Strategy HLB Group said Wednesday it will hold the “2026 HLB Forum” for two days starting May 12 at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul, under the theme “DNA of Success, Continuous Innovation; Unstoppable Challenge.” Now in its fourth year, the forum will bring together the group’s biotech affiliates along with pharmaceutical, biotech and investment experts from South Korea and abroad. The event will review global industry trends and assess progress and next steps for key pipelines, the company said. HLB said it will share updates on new modality development alongside broader global biotech trends. A main focus will be development and commercialization strategy for next-generation oncology programs following its liver cancer and bile duct cancer drug candidates that are in the approval stage. Affiliates will also present pipeline progress and follow-up plans, with discussions aimed at refining specific approaches. The forum will also cover major industry issues including the regulatory environment, disease-specific development strategies, artificial intelligence-based drug development, investment trends and examples of entering the U.S. market. HLB said it plans to use the forum to strengthen cooperation among affiliates and speed commercialization of its pipeline. The group recently hired global pharmaceutical and biotech business development expert Yang Eun-young as president to bolster global commercialization capabilities across its affiliates, it said. “This forum is an opportunity to make our future strategy more concrete based on the drug development experience and global network the group has built,” Nam Gyeong-suk, managing director in HLB Group’s Bio Strategy Planning Team, said in a statement. “We will continue strengthening our R&D and commercialization capabilities so each affiliate’s pipeline can translate into meaningful results in the global market.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 10:49:01
  • Korean Drugmakers Expand Into Hospital Digital Health Systems Beyond Prescriptions
    Korean Drugmakers Expand Into Hospital Digital Health Systems Beyond Prescriptions Pharmaceutical companies in South Korea are accelerating moves into hospital-based digital health care, expanding beyond drug sales into patient monitoring and hospital systems. According to the Korea Digital Industry Association, the domestic digital health market in 2024 grew 18.7% from a year earlier to 7.7409 trillion won, marking a second straight year of double-digit growth. The shift is being driven by faster commercialization than new drug development and pressure from lower prices for generic medicines, prompting drugmakers to seek new growth engines. Daewoong Pharmaceutical, which set up a dedicated digital health care marketing division in 2024, is widening hospital adoption of its artificial intelligence solutions. Its flagship product is the bedside monitoring system thynC, which collects and analyzes key vital signs — including electrocardiograms, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate — around the clock and sends real-time alerts to medical staff when abnormalities are detected. ThynC has sped up deployment after becoming the first in South Korea to secure reimbursement under long-term care benefits. The number of installed beds jumped from 90 in 2023 to a cumulative total of about 20,000 last year. The revenue model is usage-based. Daewoong collects payments from hospitals and then pays the developer, Seers Technology, about 3 million won per bed. Contracts are signed by ward, and once installed, the system can generate recurring revenue. Daewoong said revenue from its digital health care business totaled 50.9 billion won last year, and it aims to expand that to about 300 billion won this year. Industry officials say that once such systems become embedded in hospital operations, they are difficult to replace, potentially creating a long-term business base. Yuhan is also moving quickly into digital health care. The company recently partnered with digital health firm Huino to commercialize MemoCue, an AI-based patient monitoring system, and began supplying it to H Plus Yangji Hospital. MemoCue analyzes hospitalized patients’ ECG data in real time to detect warning signs early. It extends monitoring beyond intensive care units to general wards and is expected to be applied to about 100 beds. The system can use a hospital’s existing communications infrastructure, which the company says reduces the burden of adoption. Yuhan has previously built up hospital data through MemoPatch, a long-term ECG monitoring system. At Severance Hospital, cumulative tests have surpassed 10,000, providing real-world use cases. With strengths in major treatment areas such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, the accumulated data could also be used for new drug development and marketing strategies. “As the range of use inside hospitals expands, the pace of data accumulation also speeds up,” an industry official said. “That can widen long-term gaps in business competitiveness between companies.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 14:27:16
  • Samsung Biologics Labor Talks Resume With No Deal as Strike Enters Fourth Day
    Samsung Biologics Labor Talks Resume With No Deal as Strike Enters Fourth Day Samsung Biologics and its union resumed talks as the full-scale strike entered its fourth day, but failed to narrow differences. The two sides plan additional meetings on May 6 and May 8 to continue negotiations. The Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng branch of the Samsung Group Inter-Company Labor Union said the sides again found no common ground in a meeting mediated by the Jungbu Regional Office of Employment and Labor on May 4. A first session ran for about two hours from 10:15 a.m. and ended without progress. Talks continued from 1:30 p.m. to 4:10 p.m., with labor and management meeting separately with the Labor Ministry. The union said, "There was no meaningful agenda or direction presented, and only the next meeting was set." The sides will hold a one-on-one meeting between chief negotiators on May 6, and a tripartite meeting involving the Labor Ministry on May 8, the union said. Union branch chief Park Jae-seong attended the May 4 meeting. He did not attend a labor-management-government meeting on April 30 due to an overseas schedule. The company was represented by working-level officials at the executive director level and department heads, according to the union. The dispute centers on wages, bonuses and personnel systems. The union is seeking an average 14% wage increase, a 30 million won incentive per employee, and distribution of 20% of operating profit as performance pay. The company has proposed a 6.2% wage increase and a one-time payment of 6 million won. Negotiations have also been complicated by provisions requiring the union's prior consent on major management issues such as new hiring, performance evaluations and mergers and acquisitions. Ahead of the meeting, the union said the situation cannot be resolved unless the company presents a substantive revised proposal and a responsible official with decision-making authority. The sides held 13 rounds of talks from December last year through March but failed to reach an agreement. Strikes in some processes from April 28 to 30 reportedly disrupted production of anticancer drugs and HIV treatments. The company estimates losses of about 150 billion won during that period. The current strike has been carried out through use of weekday leave and refusal to work on holidays, with about 2,800 of the union's 4,000 members participating. The union plans to continue the full-scale strike through May 5, then shift on May 6 to a work-to-rule campaign by refusing overtime and holiday work.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 17:51:18
  • Daewoong Pharma Wins Approval to Use Fexuclue in H. pylori Eradication Therapy
    Daewoong Pharma Wins Approval to Use Fexuclue in H. pylori Eradication Therapy Daewoong Pharmaceutical said Sunday that South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved its gastroesophageal reflux disease drug, Fexuclue Tablets 40 mg (fexuprazan hydrochloride), for use in combination antibiotic therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Fexuclue can be taken regardless of meals. With the added indication, its approved uses now include treatment of erosive GERD, improvement of gastric mucosal lesions in acute and chronic gastritis, prevention of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced peptic ulcers, and combination therapy for H. pylori eradication. H. pylori infection has a high prevalence in South Korea, at about 50%, and is known to contribute to chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers and gastric cancer, prompting recommendations for active eradication treatment. As resistance to clarithromycin, used in first-line eradication therapy, has increased, demand has grown in clinical practice for a wider range of treatment options, the company said. Daewoong Pharmaceutical said results from a domestic Phase 3 trial conducted at multiple institutions from February 2024 to April last year showed Fexuclue’s treatment effect was particularly pronounced in patients with clarithromycin resistance. A company official said the eradication rate for a Fexuclue-based regimen in the clarithromycin-resistant group was 54.76%, about 26 percentage points higher than a lansoprazole-based regimen at 28.57%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 13:06:16
  • Drugmakers Expand Small-Pack Supplements Beyond Pharmacies to Daiso
    Drugmakers Expand Small-Pack Supplements Beyond Pharmacies to Daiso Drugmakers are expanding sales of health functional foods and other products to Daiso, a fixed-price household goods chain, as they move beyond pharmacy-centered distribution. With consumers seeking ultra-low prices and value during a downturn, companies are aiming to lower the cost burden and broaden customer touchpoints. The shift is also spreading to quick-commerce delivery channels. According to the industry on May 3, Chong Kun Dang launched six small-portion, small-pack “Dailywise” health functional foods and seven gummy products at Daiso. The lineup includes basics such as multivitamins and minerals and omega-3, as well as “Women’s Health Respecta Probiotics.” Dongwha Pharm has also released nine Daiso-only daily health products, including “Pyeonan Hwal,” “Quick&Sure,” “by. Ssanghwa-won” and “by. Maglab.” The company said Pyeonan Hwal and other items ranked No. 1 in the food category after launch, and initial online-mall inventory sold out quickly, leading to temporary shortages. By. Ssanghwa-won and by. Maglab are sub-brands of Ssanghwa-won and Maglab, planned as Daiso-exclusive products tailored to the channel. The broader retail push is translating into earnings. Chong Kun Dang Health returned to profitability last year, posting operating profit of 37.3 billion won, helped by expanded supplement sales. Daewoong Pharmaceutical also reported that its OTC sales rose 27% from a year earlier to 43.7 billion won as sales of supplements launched through Daiso increased. Both companies moved early to offer ultra-low-priced supplements at Daiso, pricing key items at a fixed 3,000 to 5,000 won. Jeong Dong-hee, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said Daewoong’s core products such as Ursa are expected to grow through pharmacies, while new health functional foods should expand through general retail channels. He projected the company’s OTC division revenue will rise from 160.6 billion won in 2025 to 184.7 billion won this year. As low-price, small-portion strategies centered on Daiso lift sales, the approach is spreading to other channels. Dong-A Pharmaceutical has placed four items from its health functional food brand Selparex on Baemin’s B Mart delivery platform. All are sold as one-month supplies at a fixed price of 5,000 won. Dongkook Pharmaceutical and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical are also already supplying products to quick-commerce channels. Industry officials say the model is taking shape: use small packs to improve accessibility and draw new demand, then expand distribution based on that base. A pharmaceutical company official said small-pack products are a sales strategy designed around consumer accessibility, and are meaningful because they can introduce products to more customers. With online and offline distribution channels diversifying, the official said, expanding points of sale is a natural trend.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 16:55:23
  • Samsung Biologics Strike Enters Third Day as Union Seeks Say on Hiring, M&A
    Samsung Biologics Strike Enters Third Day as Union Seeks Say on Hiring, M&A Samsung Biologics’ first full-scale strike since the company was founded in 2011 continued for a third day on Saturday, raising concerns about production disruptions and damage to customer confidence. The union is pressing for a major pay and bonus package and has also sought prior consent rights on key management matters such as hiring, personnel evaluations and mergers and acquisitions, prompting criticism that it is hardening its stance rather than seeking compromise.  ◆5-day strike began May 1···Company estimates 640 billion won loss if it runs full term According to the Samsung Biologics branch of the Samsung Group National Union, the union began a full strike on May 1, Labor Day, and plans to continue through May 5. The union said about 2,800 of its roughly 4,000 members are taking part. It said the action is being carried out without separate rallies, including by using annual leave and refusing holiday work.  The company estimates that if the strike continues for the planned five days, losses could total about 640 billion won. That is about half of Samsung Biologics’ first-quarter revenue of 1.2571 trillion won and exceeds its operating profit of 580.8 billion won for the same period. Labor and management are expected to return to the bargaining table on May 4 under mediation by the Jungbu Regional Office of Employment and Labor, but the gap remains wide. The union is seeking an average 14% wage increase, a 30 million won per-person incentive payment, and a bonus pool equal to 20% of operating profit. The company has offered a 6.2% wage increase and a one-time payment of 6 million won.  The union is also reported to have included in its collective bargaining demands a clause requiring prior union consent for new hiring, personnel matters and M&A. The company has said it cannot accept provisions it views as directly tied to management rights. Human resources experts criticized the union’s proposal, saying hiring and adopting new technologies are essential strategies for corporate survival and that restricting them in the name of job security could weaken competitiveness. They added that authority and responsibility for management rest with executives. ◆Talks stalled···Union leadership’s negotiating posture also questioned Samsung Biologics and the union held 13 rounds of talks from December through March without reaching an agreement. With a full strike scheduled for May 1, the union also carried out surprise walkouts in some processes from April 28 to 30. The company said those actions halted a filling process, disrupted supplies of raw and packaging materials, and delayed production of key medicines including cancer drugs and HIV treatments, estimating losses of about 150 billion won over that period.  A tripartite meeting hosted April 30 by the Jungbu office of the Employment and Labor Ministry also failed to narrow differences. The union chair was reported to have been absent due to overseas travel plans, drawing criticism from some quarters amid concerns over production disruptions and customer trust. Other union officials were also criticized after presenting, as a precondition, a demand that the company replace all of its bargaining representatives.  In a statement issued the afternoon of May 1, the company said negotiations had been difficult because the union’s demands were not realistically acceptable, adding that issues directly tied to personnel authority and management rights were especially hard to bridge. Industry officials have warned that a prolonged strike could not only deepen production-related losses but also affect future global contract competition. Samsung Biologics posted annual revenue of 4.5570 trillion won and operating profit of 2.0692 trillion won last year, achieving more than 30% growth from the previous year. But in the contract manufacturing organization industry, where stable production capacity is a key competitive factor, an extended labor dispute could disrupt contract performance and new orders from global customers.  A Samsung Biologics official criticized the union’s demands and strike tactics, urging it to stop what the company called unreasonable demands and coercive pressure to join the strike and to return to talks with a sense of responsibility. 2026-05-03 16:08:00
  • Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to Back Up to 30 Biotech Startups at Songdo C-Lab Outside
    Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to Back Up to 30 Biotech Startups at Songdo C-Lab Outside Samsung Biologics said Wednesday it plans to select and support biotech companies to join “C-Lab Outside” in Songdo in partnership with Eli Lilly. The company unveiled an operating roadmap for C-Lab Outside, which is scheduled to be established next year, at the “Bio Korea 2026” event. Lee Sang-myeong, executive director in charge of CDO development at Samsung Biologics, said Songdo International City is expected to grow into the world’s largest bio cluster by 2030 and called it an ideal location for open innovation with infrastructure spanning the value chain. Under the collaboration, the companies plan to jointly select and support up to 30 biotechs capable of developing next-generation therapies. C-Lab Outside is set to be completed in July next year at Samsung Biologics’ second bio campus in Songdo, Incheon. The five-story facility will have a total floor area of about 12,000 square meters. Recruitment will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, before the center is completed, and will target early-stage startups at Series B or below. Companies that already have partnerships with global conglomerates will be excluded. Tenancy will be two years, extendable to a maximum of four years. Selection and incubation will be carried out jointly with Lilly’s innovation program, Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL). Samsung Biologics said it is also expanding support for South Korea’s biotech ecosystem through biotech investment, seminars and efforts to localize raw and subsidiary materials. A company official said it plans to broaden support, including creating an industry development fund worth 25 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:27:16
  • Korean Drug, Biotech Groups Form ‘One Team’ to Streamline Global Expansion Support
    Korean Drug, Biotech Groups Form ‘One Team’ to Streamline Global Expansion Support A “K-Pharma Bio One Team” initiative aimed at strengthening the global competitiveness of South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry has officially launched. The Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association said Tuesday it signed a memorandum of understanding at COEX in Seoul with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the Korea Bio Association and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency to cooperate on global marketing. The goal is to consolidate overseas expansion support programs that had been spread across different ministries and improve efficiency. The agreement was 추진됐다 to systematize support for Korean drug and biotech companies entering overseas markets through cooperation among affiliated and related organizations under the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. As an industry representative, the association said it will set support priorities reflecting company demand and serve as a channel linking the private sector and government. Under the pact, the four organizations will cooperate on jointly analyzing demand for global market entry, identifying and resolving export difficulties, providing overseas market and company information, and marketing tied to major global exhibitions. They said they will strengthen end-to-end support, from strategy development to partner searches and commercialization. The cooperation will accelerate around the BIO International Convention, known as BIO USA, set for June in San Diego. BIO USA is the world’s largest life sciences exhibition, drawing pharmaceutical and biotech companies and research institutions. About 250 Korean companies are expected to take part this year. The four organizations said they will jointly support participating companies and, with other Korean organizations, hold a combined “Korea Night” reception. More than 600 industry participants are expected to attend, with the event aimed at expanding networks with global companies and investors. Noh Yeon-hong, chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, said the agreement will be “an opportunity to further advance” the country’s support system for global expansion. “Through one-team cooperation, we will actively support strengthening corporate competitiveness and raising the industry’s standing,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 17:36:51
  • L&C Bio says Re2O skin booster uses acellular donated dermis, addresses ethics and oversight
    L&C Bio says Re2O skin booster uses acellular donated dermis, addresses ethics and oversight L&C Bio said its human tissue-based extracellular matrix (ECM) skin booster, Re2O, is made from acellular dermal matrix (ADM) derived from donated human tissue, pushing back against controversy over regulation and ethics. The company held a press briefing on the 29th at Conference House Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, to explain ECM structure, Re2O’s characteristics and how human tissue is used. Re2O has recently faced claims and misunderstandings, including suggestions it involves injecting “cadaver skin,” as well as ethical questions about using donated tissue for cosmetic purposes. Re2O is based on ECM biomaterial composed of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), the company said. By removing cells, it aims to minimize immune reactions while providing an environment needed for skin tissue regeneration. Lee Ju-hee, L&C Bio’s vice chairman, said ADM has been used for decades in fields including dentistry, head and neck cancer and breast cancer reconstruction. Re2O, she said, applies ADM as a skin booster and is differentiated from existing products by its ability to reduce immune response while promoting tissue regeneration. Company officials also addressed oversight, saying human tissue is not in a regulatory blind spot but is managed under a system separate from pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Han Bang-hee, an L&C Bio vice president, said strict standards apply, including donor screening tests, sterile management and full life-cycle traceability. He said tracking is possible at the donor level, allowing causes to be identified if adverse events occur. The company said it ensures safety through nine test items in the United States and eight in South Korea. On the ethics debate over cosmetic use, the company cited donor consent and legal standards. Chairman Lee Hwan-cheol said the Human Tissue Act is aimed at “physical stability and restoration of physiological function,” and that restoring skin structure also falls under that purpose. He said the company submitted related materials to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and that on-site inspections have been completed. Lee said the core of ethics is not emotional judgment but donor consent and the appropriateness of medical use. He said Re2O uses only tissue from donors who provided prior consent that includes cosmetic use.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 15:15:04