GC Cell announced on the 13th that it has begun administering the first domestic Phase 1 clinical trial patients for its CAR-NK candidate substance "GCC2005," which it is co-developing with global partner Artiva Biotherapeutics. CAR-NK is a next-generation immune cell therapy that attaches natural killer (NK) cells to chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that specifically respond to cancer cells. GCC2005 is an allogeneic cell therapy made from umbilical cord blood-derived NK cells, targeting CD5, which is highly expressed in T cell lymphoma, and co-expressing CAR and interleukin-15 (IL-15) to improve the short persistence of existing NK cells. The trial aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of GCC2005 in up to about 48 patients with relapsed or refractory NK/T cell malignancies and to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).
HUGEL announced on the 13th that it held an academic symposium called "H.E.L.F TTT 2025" targeted at overseas medical professionals for three days starting from the 10th. H.E.L.F has been an academic event hosted by HUGEL since 2013. The detailed program, set up to train opinion leaders from various countries as HUGEL academic experts, is called H.E.L.F TTT. Approximately 20 medical and aesthetic professionals from 12 countries, including China, Australia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), participated in this event. Domestic experts explained the basic theories of botulinum toxin and filler procedures and lectured on facial application techniques.
HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE announced on the 13th that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved animal efficacy tests for the co-development of its broad-spectrum antiviral treatment "Xafty" for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). Xafty has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial as a treatment for COVID-19. If efficacy is proven in the NIAID animal tests, the company stated that it may skip Phase 1 and proceed directly to Phase 2. In this case, the development period for the treatment may be shortened, enabling a swift response to H5N1. H5N1 is rapidly emerging as a strong candidate for the "next pandemic" as recent infection cases have surged from poultry like chickens and ducks to mammals such as cattle, dogs, and cats.
D&D Pharmatech announced on the 13th that it has received a decision for registration of a new patent related to its oral peptide platform technology, ORALINK, in Japan. When administering GLP-1 peptide drugs, which are gaining attention as obesity treatments, there are limits to absorption into the bloodstream due to the peptides' low stability and large molecular size. The newly registered patent in Japan is a technology that increases drug absorption through the vitamin transporter (SMVT) in the small intestine by binding peptides to ligands. Notably, it can enhance oral absorption rates for oral GLP-1 drugs without inhibiting the drug's inherent activity.
HANDOK announced on the 13th that it has signed a supply contract for lifestyle intervention coaching services for diabetes and obesity management with digital healthcare company Doctor Diary. Under this agreement, HANDOK will market and sell coaching services to primary medical institutions starting next month. The digital lifestyle intervention coaching service helps users establish and maintain healthy habits. It can be purchased after consulting with a physician, and a coaching team composed of professionals like nurses and clinical nutritionists provides personalized consultation services. HANDOK entered into an equity investment and strategic cooperation agreement with Doctor Diary in 2023. The two corporations aim to create value in the non-medical domain by leveraging their respective digital platforms and business experiences.
JW Medical announced on the 13th that it exhibited imaging diagnostic equipment from Carestream Health at the Korean Society of Radiological Technology Spring Academic Conference. The Korean Society of Radiological Technology is an academic organization established to enhance the expertise in clinical research and radiation fields. This spring conference was held on the 8th at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun, Seoul. JW Medical showcased the "DRX-LC" detector developed by Carestream. The DRX-LC product reduces imaging time for long bones such as the femur and tibia, enhancing device usability for medical staff. JW Medical has strengthened its sales and marketing activities for premium imaging diagnostic devices since signing a domestic sales contract with Carestream in 2020.
Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine announced on the 13th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with regenerative medicine biomaterials company Geno Cure to conduct research and commercialization of "polydesoxyribonucleotides (PDRN)" injections. The signing ceremony took place at the Jaseng Medibio Center located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, attended by key officials including Jaseng Hospital Director Jin-ho Lee and Geno Cure CEO Bo-kyung Oh. PDRN is a genetic material extracted from the reproductive cells of salmon or trout and is known to promote the regeneration of damaged tissues. The two institutions will collaborate on developing injections with effects on wound healing, pain alleviation, inflammation reduction, and tissue regeneration as a start of the agreement.
Hallym University Medical Center announced on the 13th that it has established a unified digital pathology system that encompasses its four affiliated hospitals, making it the first in Korea. Digital pathology is an advanced technology that converts patient tissue and cell slides, which were previously observed directly under a microscope, into digital images through a high-resolution scanner, allowing them to be read on a monitor. The digital pathology system introduced by Hallym University Medical Center includes a slide scanner, image management system (IMS), and artificial intelligence (AI)-based morphological measurement software. The four hospitals under Hallym University Medical Center (Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, and Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital) can share and collaborate in real-time on the digital pathology images converted by each hospital.
The Danish Embassy in Korea announced on the 13th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the "Urban Health Improvement Project" with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Korea, the Korean Diabetes Association, and the Korean Obesity Society on the 12th at Seoul City Hall. The Urban Health Improvement Project is a global collaboration project aimed at enhancing health equity in urban communities. It was first initiated in 2014 in joint planning with University College London (UCL), the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Novo Nordisk, and is currently being implemented in 51 cities worldwide. Through this agreement, the participating institutions will promote programs to improve health equity for Seoul citizens and advance chronic disease management systems.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 13th that it held a joint meeting of the "Delivery System and Community Medical Expert Committee" and the "Fair Compensation and Essential Medical Expert Committee" under the Medical Reform Special Committee. The meeting aimed for comprehensive discussions on supporting local hospitals and compensation measures, with both committees participating together. The meeting discussed the designation criteria and compensation for comprehensive secondary hospitals. The importance of enhancing compensation for intensive care and 24-hour services and establishing a performance support system for suitable treatments was also discussed. There was agreement that support measures for the essential treatment specialization functions of local secondary hospitals should be created when their specialized functions are excellent. There was also consensus on setting up performance evaluation systems tailored to the specialized functions of each hospital. The government plans to reflect the outcomes of this discussion in the "Second Implementation Plan for Medical Reform."
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 13th that a bill designating May 29 as "Medical Device Day" has passed the National Assembly plenary session. The Ministry plans to designate Medical Device Day to widely promote the international status of domestic medical devices and share the importance of medical devices, which are future growth engines, with the industry and the public, in accordance with amendments to the Medical Devices Act and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Act.