The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 23rd that it will directly analyze the status of rare diseases in the country. The agency is conducting a rare disease registration project and will compile data on disease occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment from 17 specialized institutions. Information on patients, treatments, and genes will be collected from medical sites and turned into statistics. The rare disease statistics will be reflected in policy formulation. Ji Young-mi, the head of the agency, noted, "We plan to gradually expand the participation of medical institutions to register all rare disease patients in the country."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 23rd that it will improve the treatment environment for patients hospitalized in mental health facilities. A plan to improve the isolation and coercion system is set for the first half of this year. Previously, the ministry conducted an assessment of the treatment environment in 338 mental health facilities and established a consultative body that includes patients and their families. The ministry is expected to hold a policy forum at the National Assembly soon to gather opinions from various sectors. Lee Sang-won, the head of the mental health policy division, said, "We will protect patient rights."
GeoYoung, the leading pharmaceutical distribution company in South Korea, announced on the 23rd that the sales of the allergy treatment drug "Zyrtec" in pharmacies increased by 47.9% in March compared to the previous month. The company attributed the sales increase of Zyrtec to the early onset of the pollen allergy season this year compared to previous years. Zyrtec is an over-the-counter medication that can help alleviate allergy symptoms caused by pollen and has maintained the top position in the antihistamine market in South Korea for 28 consecutive years. It's convenient to take once a day and focuses on reducing inconveniences in daily life, such as drowsiness.
JW Medical announced on the 23rd that it showcased two latest ultrasound imaging diagnostic devices at the 37th Korean Society of Breast Imaging Conference. The conference is a platform for medical professionals to share research results and diagnostic techniques for breast cancer treatment. JW Medical displayed two types of ultrasound imaging diagnostic devices, AR850DI and AR750DI, developed by Japan's Fujifilm. It applied ultrasound imaging technology called 'Deep Insight.'
HANDOK announced on the 23rd that it will present three cancer drug studies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2025) conference in Chicago, USA. The studies include new drug substances targeting next-generation EGFR mutation-degrading lung cancer treatment, KRAS G12D mutation protein-degrading drug, and a new FGFR/HDAC dual inhibitor drug. HANDOK explains that the new drug substances inhibit cancer cell proliferation by degrading EGFR mutation proteins.
ABL Bio announced on the 23rd that it has commenced patient administration in the 'Tobesimig (ABL001) investigator-initiated clinical trial' at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, USA. The trial involves 50 patients with biliary tract cancer to evaluate the treatment potential. The main goal is to derive the maximum tolerated dose by reporting progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), duration of response, overall survival, and safety.
The telemedicine platform corporations SolDoc announced on the 23rd that it conducted mental health screenings for 120 elderly residents living in Jeongseon and Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. From December last year to February, the screenings assessed depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline at community health centers, village halls, and senior centers, followed by telemedicine with doctors. This is part of a pilot project for an integrated mental health management system.
Gachon University Gil Medical Center announced on the 23rd that it has introduced software that automatically analyzes chest CT images using artificial intelligence (AI). The software simultaneously analyzes the lungs, heart, aorta, and spine using chest CT scans. It aids in accurate and rapid diagnosis, particularly for high-risk patients or those with lung diseases requiring early diagnosis. This software is the 'AI Rad Companion Chest CT' developed by Germany's Siemens Healthineers.
HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE announced on the 23rd that it has received approval from Vietnamese health authorities for a Phase 2/3 combined clinical trial of its new drug candidate 'CP-COV03' for treating dengue fever and similar infectious diseases. Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 400 million people are infected globally each year, resulting in over 25,000 deaths. Recently, dengue fever cases have increased due to climate change and human encroachment into mosquito habitats. The company plans to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the product in clinical trials.
Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital announced on the 23rd that it has created 40 emergency treatment beds (12 for severe cases and 28 for moderate cases) for critically ill patients. An advanced negative pressure control system has been implemented, along with access control devices to prevent infections. These beds will be used as regular beds under normal circumstances but will be converted to emergency treatment beds in the event of a national infectious disease crisis. Ko Dong-hyun, the hospital director, said, "As the university hospital closest to the airport in Incheon, we will respond to infectious disease crises."