The fourth quarter marked a continuation of weak earnings for many major South Korean pharma firms, hurt by factors including the continued impact of a long-running doctors’ protest against medical reforms at home, as well as a strong US dollar amid political uncertainties in Korea.
Korea Q4 Roundup: Overseas Sales, M&A Provide Growth Amid General Weakness
Hanmi Dispute Finally Ends
Several major South Korean pharma firms benefited from solid sales of new drugs, and in some cases M&A deals, outside the country, although overall growth was generally weak. Meanwhile, a long-running leadership dispute at Hanmi has been resolved.

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