Dong-A ST announced on the 24th that its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) subsidiary, Aptis, has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the ADC candidate 'DA-3501 (AT-211)' to enter domestic phase 1 clinical trials. The two companies plan to develop DA-3501 as a treatment for difficult-to-treat solid tumors such as gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer. DA-3501 targets Claudin 18.2, a protein that is excessively expressed on the surface of cancer cells, with gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer being the primary treatment targets. Notably, this next-generation ADC utilizes Aptis's proprietary platform technology 'AbClick®' and is expected to secure superior selectivity and safety profiles compared to existing ADCs.
Hanmi Group's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) subsidiary, Hanmi Precision Chemical, recently announced on the 24th that it has signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding for the development and production of a monkeypox vaccine in collaboration with peptide-based vaccine specialist EdJen BioTech and the International Vaccine Institute. The agreement aims for the three companies to organically cooperate throughout the entire cycle from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing, quality control, and global supply based on each company's specialized capabilities. Monkeypox is a viral infectious disease that primarily causes fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy, and has recently emerged as an international public health threat. The three institutions plan to develop and produce next-generation vaccines to respond to new infectious diseases by combining Hanmi Precision Chemical's GMP-based peptide production technology, EdJen BioTech's innovative vaccine platform, and the International Vaccine Institute's comprehensive vaccine development capabilities and global public health expertise.
ABL Bio announced on the 24th that its partner I-Mab will present clinical phase 1b data on the combination therapy of ABL111 (generic name: givatuzumab) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) gastrointestinal cancer conference, held in Barcelona, Spain, from July 2-5 (local time). The presentation will introduce the dose escalation portion of the clinical phase 1b study. This phase 1b study is assessing ABL111 (givatuzumab) as a first-line treatment for gastric cancer patients, evaluating the combination of ABL111 (givatuzumab) with the anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab and chemotherapy through the dose escalation and expansion part. ABL111 is a pipeline being co-developed by ABL Bio and I-Mab and is one of the bispecific antibodies utilizing ABL Bio's 4-1BB-based dual-antibody platform, 'Grabody-T.'
Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 24th that it presented the results of population pharmacokinetic modeling research for 'Anblo,' the first domestically produced SGLT-2 inhibitor for diabetes, at the 2025 PAGE (Population Approach Group in Europe) conference held in Greece earlier this month. Based on data from 446 Koreans, the study found that age significantly influences the rate of drug elimination, while whether a person has eaten affects absorption time. Reflecting the characteristics of the drug's varied distribution rates in different tissues of the body, the study developed a model that accurately predicts actual patient blood drug concentrations by dividing them into three virtual compartments. In 'goodness-of-fit analysis (GOF),' which assesses the alignment between predicted concentrations and actual concentrations, as well as 'residual analysis,' which analyzes the differences and patterns between predicted and observed values to gauge reliability, and 'visual predictive check,' which visually analyzes whether actual observed values are included in the prediction intervals generated through simulations, high fit and reliability were demonstrated.
Dong-A Scios Group announced on the 24th that it has signed an agreement with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities to promote the employment of people with disabilities and implement ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management. Through this agreement, Dong-A Scios Group and the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities agreed to cooperate in establishing a mutual framework for expanding employment opportunities and ensuring job security for people with disabilities. Dong-A Scios Group is committed to implementing social responsibility by promoting the hiring of people with disabilities and providing quality jobs. The Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities will support Dong-A Scios Group's ESG management by operating job discovery, employment model development, and training education to create suitable jobs for individuals with disabilities.
Inventage Lab announced on the 24th that it participated in the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) held in Chicago, USA, from the 20th to the 23rd of last month, unveiling its next-generation obesity treatment platform technology through poster presentations. The company introduced preclinical data on the one-month-long injection (IVL3021·IVL3024) based on Wigobi and Zepbound, as well as the oral formulation (IVL3027) of semaglutide. According to the presentation, the long-acting injection based on their proprietary microsphere technology boasts excellent particle size uniformity and suppresses the initial over-release phenomenon, maintaining stable drug release as a key advantage. Furthermore, the oral formulation IVL3027 of semaglutide drew attention from attendees for securing significantly higher bioavailability and a week-long drug release duration compared to existing oral formulations.
Coreline Soft announced on the 24th that it has signed a supply contract for its artificial intelligence (AI) software AVIEW COPD with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), located in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) complex in the U.S. The company plans to expand its North American B2A (Business to Academic) supply strategy targeting not only public and private hospital channels but also medical schools and clinical research institutions based on this contract. TMC is the world’s largest medical complex, including over 60 hospitals, research institutions, and medical schools, with an annual patient volume exceeding 10 million. BCM serves as a key educational and research institution within TMC and plays a pivotal role in the North American medical research ecosystem. By supplying AI products to BCM, the company aims to establish a foundation for utilizing quantitative analysis data directly in clinical and academic environments beyond simple readings. The company plans to expand its B2A business in Texas starting from the supply contract with BCM.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical announced on the 24th that it has launched 'Senskin Cream,' the first dermatitis treatment combining hydrocortisone acetate and D-panthenol in Korea. This product contains a high concentration (5%) of hydrocortisone acetate, effective in alleviating skin inflammation, along with D-panthenol, which helps strengthen the skin barrier, providing both inflammation relief and skin barrier enhancement simultaneously. Hydrocortisone acetate, a low-irritation steroid component, possesses excellent anti-inflammatory effects, and the addition of D-panthenol, which aids tissue recovery and barrier reinforcement, compensates for the weakening of the skin barrier that can occur with the use of steroid ointments.
HLB Group announced on the 24th that executives from Asia Capital Alliance (ACA), a major private equity management firm in Japan, visited HLB PANAGENE and other key subsidiaries. ACA is an investment company specialized in the healthcare sector in Asia. The visiting delegation from ACA noted HLB's leading research capabilities and global clinical experience, and both parties expressed positive intentions about the potential for joint entry into the senior healthcare and medical sectors. HLB Group plans to leverage ACA's investment and network capabilities to establish practical cooperation models between Korea and Japan across healthcare, health functional foods, and new drug development, and to begin exporting technology not only to the Japanese market but throughout Asia.
Huons Meditech announced on the 24th that it will hold a symposium on chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome treatment on the 28th in Seoul Dragon City, focusing on cases of its urological extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Huons Meditech, the leading company in the domestic extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter market, explained that the event is aimed at promoting the excellence of its new product 'IMPO88 Plus' to urological medical professionals. 'IMPO88 Plus' is the successor model of Huons Meditech's extracorporeal shockwave therapy device for erectile dysfunction, 'IMPO88.' Clinical trials conducted at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital have demonstrated its treatment effects for chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, leading to the addition of indications for the 'IMPO88 Plus' which was newly launched in April.
ROKIT Healthcare announced on the 24th that the number of AI-based ultra-personalized skin regeneration (diabetic foot regeneration) surgeries conducted at leading university hospitals in the United States and world-class medical institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, has surpassed 100 cases. A representative from ROKIT Healthcare stated, 'All of these procedures have shown noticeable regenerative effects within four weeks,' adding, 'Both medical professionals and patients have evaluated them as demonstrating groundbreaking efficiency and resilience compared to existing treatments.'
The Korea Bio Association announced on the 24th that it has been designated as the lead research and development institution for the '2025 AI-based pharmaceutical lifecycle technology development project' by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The ministry and the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) announced this project to accelerate new drug and pharmaceutical research and development. The project aims to develop an integrated solution that employs pharmaceutical data to predict safety and efficacy within hours and provide lifecycle information on pharmaceuticals. It consists of three detailed subprojects, with Professor Kim Joo-eun from the Department of Applied Chemistry at Kookmin University serving as the project lead. The total research budget is approximately 25.1 billion won, with the government contributing about 20.3 billion won.
Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 24th that it has performed the country’s first high-difficulty ovarian cancer surgery using the Hugo robotic surgical system. This surgery is noteworthy for enabling accurate staging and optimal treatment planning through the use of the Hugo robot, providing precision and safe surgery. The procedure included hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, total omentectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy, allowing for rapid recovery and efficient treatment of the patient. The hospital explained that the patient was discharged in good health just three days after the surgery, demonstrating a quick recovery.
The Institute of Women's Medicine at Seoul Station announced on the 24th that it conducted a 10-day medical training for medical staff from Alka Hospital, a general hospital located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. Roshani Ulak, who participated in the training, completed her doctoral program at Kyung Hee University in 2017 and returned to Nepal to begin providing obstetric care. This infertility medicine training consisted of programs focused on education regarding infertility treatment processes, observation of in vitro fertilization procedures, and exploring directions for the advancement of infertility medicine in Nepal. Currently, in vitro fertilization is becoming more prevalent in Nepal, and this training aims to establish a medical network between Korea and Nepal and promote exchanges in the field of infertility.