South Korean biotechnology and pharmaceutical advancements

South Korean biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are reporting significant clinical advancements and market expansions across various medical sectors.

In oncology, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the immunotherapy drug Keytruda for specific platinum-resistant cancers, which experts note can reduce the risk of disease progression or death by 28%. Additionally, HLB reported successful Phase 3 clinical trials for a combination therapy targeting unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, with plans to present findings internationally.

Innovations in delivery methods include SNvia’s use of biodegradable hyaluronic acid microgels containing radioactive isotopes, which demonstrated a 70% reduction in keloid size during animal testing. This technology is being explored for liver cancer applications.

Other developments include Onconic Therapeutics’ research on Zacubo for gastroesophageal reflux disease, SK Plasma’s launch of a high-dose Revolpak to improve patient convenience, and a partnership between GC Wellbeing and Japan’s JBP to develop next-generation collagen skin boosters.