Q2 Korean Biotech Roundup: Partners Return Multiple Assets

U-Turns For OliX, Artiva, Voronoi

The second quarter in South Korea was marked by the return of several assets by licensing partners, including Thea Open Innovation, which gave back rights to two ophthalmic programs in-licensed from OliX. Merck & Co. also cancelled a co-research deal with Artiva Biotherapeutics.

deal break
(Shutterstock)

Disappointing news appeared to overflow in the South Korean biotech sector in the second quarter amid multiple returned assets from global partners, a lack of major new out-licensing deals, as well as discouraging developments in some late-phase clinical trials.

More from South Korea

LigaChem Eyes Future Acquisition Of IKSUDA Following 26.6% Stake

 
• By 

South Korea's LigaChem is kickstarting a growth and globalization drive through a potential future acquisition of UK ADC player IKSUDA.

Korea Needs To Think Bigger On M&As: KHIDI

 

A new report from a domestic institute on South Korea’s biopharma M&A trends shows a pickup in activity, but that this remains relatively weak and small-scale. It calls for broader domestic government support to build expertise, drive innovation and globalization.

Japan-Korea Venture Collab Grows With VC And Regulatory Meetups

 
• By 

Cross-Asian initiative has already brought several South Korean gene and cell therapy startups and Japanese VCs closer, with further hopes for product development and launches in Japan, regulatory harmonization and gliobalization.

Korea Biotech Roundup: Orum, DongKook Price IPOs Below Band

 
• By 

The latest activity in the South Korean biotech sector includes IPOs by Orum and Dongkook Life, as well as progress with ADCs at multiple firms.

More from Focus On Asia

Generative AI In Drug Discovery And India’s Potential To Leapfrog

 
• By 

Heads of Novartis Biomedical, World Economic Forum and Indian majors like Sun Pharma’s SPARC, among others, discuss generative AI in drug discovery along with pointers for India to leapfrog the R&D process

Mounjaro In India: Price Differential, Window Of Opportunity

 

Lilly’s Mounjaro arrives in India, with the 2.5mg vial priced at under $41 in a market that has over 100 million diabetics and increasing obesity rates. Will the product see sharp demand like in China, carving out a chunk of the pie ahead of the potential arrival of semaglutide generics and could there be concerns of ‘suitcase' exports?

LigaChem Eyes Future Acquisition Of IKSUDA Following 26.6% Stake

 
• By 

South Korea's LigaChem is kickstarting a growth and globalization drive through a potential future acquisition of UK ADC player IKSUDA.