Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 22nd that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Seers Technology and ACK for the widespread deployment of the smart patient monitoring system ThynC™ and the integration of hospital electronic medical records (EMR). The purpose of this agreement is to enhance the convenience of patient management for medical staff by integrating ThynC, a next-generation digital healthcare solution, with hospital EMR systems, and to promote the digital transformation of hospital operations. The patient vital signs collected from the monitoring system must be integrated in real-time with the hospital EMR system to be utilized for accurate information recording and swift clinical decision-making.
Huons Meditech, a medical device corporation under Huons Group, announced on the 22nd that it has started exporting the female medication delivery device 'Jill'SOF' and the dedicated micro-needle 'V-Needle' to Taiwan. Jill'SOF is an electric medication delivery device for the treatment of vaginal dryness, combining pressure detection automatic injection technology utilized in the company's skin drug delivery system 'Derma Shine Series' with technology specialized for internal procedures. It allows for customized treatments based on the patient's needs by setting the drug delivery amount and speed. V-Needles are specialized needles designed for Jill'SOF that allow for accurate and rapid drug delivery directly to the vaginal wall. The procedure using Jill'SOF and V-Needles takes about 10 minutes and is relatively short, with minimal pain, enabling the procedure to be completed without general anesthesia and facilitating quick recovery.
SillaJen announced on the 22nd that it has secured the patent rights for the cancer drug BAL0891 from the Dutch biotech company Crossfire for 2 million Swiss francs (approximately 350 million won). According to the initial contract, SillaJen was obligated to pay Crossfire up to 172 million Swiss francs (3.005 billion won) in milestones based on the future development stages. With this contract amendment, SillaJen has resolved all milestone obligations. BAL0891 is a dual mechanism anti-cancer drug originally developed by Crossfire, which was introduced for development by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Basilia, but was taken over by SillaJen when Basilia withdrew from the anti-cancer drug sector in 2022. With this contract amendment, SillaJen has obtained all patents and rights previously held by Crossfire.
Samjin Pharm announced on the 22nd that its total healthcare brand 'Wish Healthy' has launched the 'Multi-Vita Calcium Vitamin D Gummies' under the concept of 'Healthy Pleasure,' enabling consumers to take care of their health in a delicious and convenient way. The Multi-Vita Calcium Vitamin D Gummies contain eight nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, C, E, D, niacin, biotin, and calcium, all packed into a gummified product that satisfies both taste and fun. The gummy product is expanding beyond just children to a broad consumer base of individuals aged 20 to 40. The Multi-Vita Calcium Vitamin D Gummies are designed to provide 210 mg of calcium and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. By using German citric acid calcium, absorption rates have been enhanced, and employing high-quality premium materials from the global vitamin expert DSM has ensured reliability and safety.
PeopleBio announced on the 22nd that it has published research findings in the latest issue of Scientific Reports, indicating that the Alzun blood test can predict post-surgical delirium by measuring blood beta-amyloid aggregation. Delirium can be a temporary state of confusion that patients may experience after surgery. As the global population ages and medical technology advances, the number of surgeries performed on individuals aged 65 and older has significantly increased. Several studies report that patients over the age of 65 have a probability of experiencing delirium after general anesthesia surgery of up to 50%. Immediate treatment and management of delirium symptoms after surgery are crucial.
HANALL BIOPHARMA announced on the 22nd that its partner Immunovant has disclosed the therapeutic targets for the next-generation FcRn antibody HL161ANS (IMVT-1402), which include Sjögren's syndrome (SjD) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Previously, Immunovant announced plans to develop HL161ANS for four diseases: myasthenia gravis (MG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), refractory rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA), and Graves' disease (GD). Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease directly involved with autoantibodies that causes various symptoms, including dryness of the eyes and mouth. CLE is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory lesions appearing on the skin. HL161ANS is being developed in an auto-injector formulation that patients can self-administer.
Enzychem Lifesciences announced on the 22nd that its subsidiary Messena has opened the 'AI Mobility & Bio Research Laboratory' (AMBL) at the National Korea Transportation University. Enzychem Lifesciences and the National Korea Transportation University signed a memorandum of understanding for 'industry-academic cooperation and the advancement of the bio-industry' last November, and established AMBL to implement this agreement. AMBL will carry out research and development to promote global commercialization by integrating advanced material analysis technology and AI technology from the National Korea Transportation University based on bio materials such as graphene, the first commercialized grapheme-developed material, and PDRN (cell regeneration promoting substances) that Messena is pursuing.
IpCell announced on the 22nd that it has successfully administered the first patient in a clinical study utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in collaboration with Catholic University and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, a first for domestic clinical research. Notably, the use of 3D-form iPSC injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis is seen as a landmark achievement not just domestically but also in the global regenerative medicine field. As a result, it is expected to gain momentum for attracting investment for commercialization and advancing into global markets. This clinical study is a collaboration between Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Application Research Institute, and IpCell.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 22nd that a partial amendment bill to the ‘Ordinance on the Management of Rare Diseases’ has been approved at the Cabinet meeting. The amendment aims to provide stable supply of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and special diets related to the diagnosis and treatment of rare disease patients by supporting producers and sellers administratively and financially. The consultative body will be composed of up to 10 members, including government officials from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and employees from organizations and institutions related to rare diseases, and will define the support targets, scope, and procedures.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 22nd that it has held the '1st Hanbang Development Promotion Committee of 2025.' At this committee meeting, the ministry deliberated on the 2025 implementation plan (draft) for the '4th Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Hanbang Development,' reported on the establishment of the 5th Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Hanbang Development (2026-2030), discussed measures to revitalize the Hanbang industry through full-cycle support of public infrastructure, and promoted measures to advance Hanbang to overseas markets and attract patients.
CareRing, a senior care corporation, announced on the 22nd that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Juwol Barun Orthopedic Clinic to enhance medical accessibility for the elderly by linking care services with healthcare. This memorandum of understanding is part of CareRing's initiative to establish an integrated medical system, aimed at supporting the daily health management of the elderly by linking care and medical services and assisting them in responding swiftly to emergencies.