■Huons Group announced on the 11th that it held a ceremony to commemorate its 60th anniversary at its headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Huons Group is rooted in the Gwangmyeong Yangpung Industry, established in 1965. It operates in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices, aesthetics, and health supplements sectors. The company has a philosophy of providing medical solutions for human health. The group plans to strengthen its research and development, global organizational culture, and ESG (environmental, social, governance) management initiatives. Yun Seong-tae, chairman of Huons Group, stated, “The next 60 years will be a time to leap beyond domestic borders to become a global healthcare corporation,” adding, “We will develop innovative new drugs that improve the lives of the people.”
■Yuhan Corporation announced on the 11th that it has introduced “Sense Balance Down Fit,” designed for post-meal blood sugar management. It helps improve blood cholesterol and suppress post-meal blood sugar spikes. It also aids smooth bowel movements. It contains inulin and chicory extract. The product has been certified for functionality by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
■Dongkook Pharmaceutical announced on the 11th that it has launched a series of three products for pet health called the Canine Series. The offerings include Canident, a toothpaste specifically for pets; Caniskin, which aids in skin moisturizing and soothing; and Canibugs, a mosquito and mite repellent. Animals are more prone to plaque buildup and have thinner skin than humans, making them susceptible to oral and skin diseases. The company has addressed these issues.
■Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 11th that it will unveil its health supplement “Hapsen” on the 14th. It contains omega-3, magnesium, vitamins B, C, D, probiotics, and astaxanthin. The product will be publicly disclosed on the crowdfunding site Wadiz.
■Dong-A Pharmaceutical announced on the 11th that it is introducing “Asabi Gummies” from its inner beauty brand ILO. The gummies contain apple cider vinegar made from fermented apples without additives. They are in a jelly form.
■GC Genome announced on the 11th that its “iCanSearch” has demonstrated the ability to predict pancreatic cancer early in clinical studies. iCanSearch diagnoses multiple types of cancer. The research results were presented at the Asian Oncology Association. The company aims to enhance its technical competitiveness in the precision medicine sector.
■AptaBio announced on the 11th that it has signed a research agreement with the National New Drug Development Program for the clinical phase 2 of “APX-115.” APX-115 is a candidate drug for treating diabetic kidney disease. The company will receive research and development funding for two years to conduct clinical trials on 186 severe patients.
■Vivozon Pharmaceutical announced on the 11th that it has launched a non-narcotic painkiller called “Anafrajoo.” It serves as an alternative to narcotic painkillers and is used to control pain after surgery. The product has received item approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
■Hits announced on the 11th that it will hold a webinar on the topic “How AI agents are changing the drug development paradigm after ChatGPT.” The webinar will address how AI technology based on large language models (LLM) is applied in drug development. It will be hosted by Hits' Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Lim Jae-chang on the 15th.
■CGBio announced on the 11th that it is co-developing a spinal surgery robot system with CUREXO. The two companies will create a precision surgical system that integrates surgical robots, spinal implants, and endoscopic surgical techniques.
■Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 11th that it has received a donation of 285 million won from Eleven Corporation to help low-income patients treat skin diseases. Eleven Corporation owns the cosmetic brand Parnell. Parnell sponsored part of the revenue from an event held in the web entertainment program “Negotiation King.”
■Chung-Ang University Hospital announced on the 11th that Professor Kim Hyeong-jun from the Department of Gastroenterology received a plaque of appreciation on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). Professor Kim has contributed to improving public health as a non-regular reviewer on the HIRA’s medical review committee. He also serves as the secretary-general of the Korean Liver Cancer Association and the head of the health insurance policy group of the Korean Society of Internal Medicine.