■ENCell completed a patent application for the validation model technology of adeno-associated virus (AAV) platform for the development of ocular disease treatments, it noted on the 1st. ENCell is developing AAV platform technology that is essential for ocular disease treatment. This includes technology for photoreceptor-specific expression in the eye. Until now, verifying whether ENCell's AAV platform accurately delivers to photoreceptors was only possible through animal experiments. With this patent application, it is expected to secure a model that can verify photoreceptor-specific delivery in vitro. Utilizing this platform technology in in vitro tests is expected to lead to reduced expense, shortened time, and increased development efficiency compared to animal experiments.
■HLB announced the absorption merger with HLB Life Science on the 1st. HLB reported that the resolution was made at the board meeting to simplify the governance structure and enhance management efficiency. As a result of the merger, HLB new shares will be issued to shareholders of HLB Life Science. The merger price per share is HLB 58,349 won and HLB Life Science 6,812 won. For each common share of HLB Life Science, 0.1167458 common shares of HLB will be allocated.
■Celltrion announced on the 1st that it has signed a business agreement for a "Global Open Innovation Program" with Seoul Bio Hub. This agreement aims for both organizations to jointly select overseas bio-medical corporations with innovative technologies to promote technological cooperation through open innovation. The final selected corporations will receive customized research and development mentoring from Celltrion's new drug research and development (R&D) team and will discuss research outcomes monitoring, global research trends, and research strategies.
■Prestige Biopharma announced on the 1st that it will present preliminary safety analysis results of the pancreatic cancer antibody drug PBP1510 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2025), which will be held in Chicago from the 25th to the 30th. The company will present the preliminary safety results of the first-in-human clinical trial phases 1 and 2a of PBP1510 (anti-PAUF) in progressive and metastatic pancreatic cancer. This will be the first announcement of safety results from clinical phase 1 assessing the drug's safety and tolerability through monotherapy with PBP1510 and combination therapy with the existing chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. According to the company, the current phase 1 clinical trial has enrolled 70% of the patients, with the completion of recruiting the remaining patients expected soon.
■Yuhan Corporation announced on the 1st that its high-content L-arginine product "Laraola" has achieved the number one sales spot in the domestic over-the-counter arginine market. According to IQVIA data, "Laraola" is expected to achieve sales of approximately 2.9 billion won in 2023 and about 4.5 billion won in 2024, marking a growth of approximately 55%. Yuhan Corporation strengthened its marketing efforts by selecting Shin Dong-yeop as its advertising model in May 2024. Following that, various promotional activities such as TV commercials and campaigns were conducted to enhance consumer awareness, resulting in a leading position in the arginine market.
■Ildong Pharmaceutical's research and development company, iLeadBMS, announced on the 1st that it disclosed its new drug candidate for heart disease at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) held in Chicago from the 29th to the 31st of last month. iLeadBMS presented its preclinical research results related to its innovative heart disease first-in-class drug candidate "IL21120033" in poster format. According to the company, "IL21120033" is a low-molecular compound acting through the CXCR7 mechanism that shows superior heart output improvement and cardiac fibrosis suppression compared to existing treatments (sacubitril/valsartan) in deep heart failure animal research models, demonstrating its competitiveness and differentiation.
■GeoYoung announced on the 1st that it donated 117,300 KF94 health masks to the disaster area of the recent wildfire in Hadong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province. The wildfire disaster area is concerning for residents' respiratory health due to lingering smoke and fine dust even after the fire has been extinguished. This is particularly critical as the smoke from the fire contains a large amount of harmful substances including ultrafine dust, carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde, which are fatal to humans. Especially, children, the elderly, and individuals with existing respiratory illnesses are at serious risk from even short-term exposure to smoke, necessitating thorough preventive measures through mask-wearing. GeoYoung expects that this donation of masks will significantly help minimize health damage to residents in the wildfire-affected areas and prevent additional occurrences of respiratory diseases.
■Dong-A Pharmaceutical announced on the 1st that it has launched its new product, "Duo-Buster Mint Ball." The "Duo-Buster Mint Ball" is a small liquid capsule with a diameter of 4.7 mm that contains peppermint essence, providing freshness in the mouth with just 1 to 2 capsules. Notably, it applies a dual capsule structure that delivers a first sense of freshness as it melts in the mouth and a second burst of freshness when chewed and swallowed, providing a powerful cooling effect. Additionally, it employs a capsule covering technology called "Seamless Technology," allowing for a smooth swallow without the unique residue typically left by capsules when they burst.
■Senior care specialist Caring, led by CEO Kim Tae-seong, announced on the 1st that it will begin operating its premium nursing facility "Caring Village" No. 1, The Pyeongchon, located in Pyeongchon-dong, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, starting this month. Caring Village is a medical-specialized premium nursing home designed to maximize access to medical services and convenience for the elderly. To strengthen the quality of medical services at Caring Village, Caring has signed an exclusive collaboration with Roem Medical Group. Roem Medical Group, which operates medical facilities such as Mediheim Hyoyog Hospital, Lohas Nursing Hospital, and Medium Nursing Hospital, will be responsible for dedicated medical care for the residents of Caring Village.
■The Seoul Medical Association announced on the 1st that it has released the list of winners for the "58th Yuhan Medical Prize." Including Associate Professor Park Wan-beom from Seoul National University Hospital’s Department of Internal Medicine, Associate Professor Choi Gi-hong from Samsung Medical Center’s Department of Internal Medicine, and Assistant Professor Na Min-seok from Severance Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology were selected for the Young Medical Researcher Award. In this evaluation, winners were selected considering various fields such as internal medicine, surgery, and basic medicine/supporting departments. The Yuhan Medical Prize was established in 1967 with support from Yuhan Corporation to enhance the research enthusiasm of domestic medical researchers and to establish a forward-looking direction for the future. Celebrating its 58th year, the Yuhan Medical Prize is recognized as a prestigious award that has significantly contributed to the development of medicine in South Korea.