PosiGate wins the 'Mobile Hospital Admission Platform Development Project' from Korea University Medical Center. /Courtesy of GeoYoung

GeoYoung announced on the 13th that its hospital IT solution subsidiary, FourC Gate, has signed a contract to build a mobile admission platform with Korea University Medical Center. FourC Gate plans to complete the development of a mobile admission platform system optimized for the environment of Korea University Medical Center, which will be implemented in hospitals such as Korea University Guro Hospital, Anam Hospital, and Ansan Hospital by the first half of next year, using the curing link solution. The curing link solution is an IT technology that connects the hospital information system (HIS) and KakaoTalk channels into one, allowing patients to utilize hospital mobile services through KakaoTalk notifications without needing to install a separate app. This allows patients to conveniently complete procedures such as admission registration, room assignment, and writing admission agreements via KakaoTalk notifications without having to visit the billing office.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced on the 13th that it has partnered with Bagel Labs, a digital therapy development corporation based on exercise interventions, to develop an obesity management solution that integrates its lead obesity treatment product, epeglenatide, with a digital therapeutic device (DTx). Epeglenatide is a proprietary new drug developed with Hanmi Pharmaceutical's unique platform technology, Lab's Recovery, and is currently in phase 3 clinical trials. Unlike existing global pharmaceutical companies' glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity treatments, it is gaining attention as a 'tailored obesity treatment for Koreans' that reflects Korean body types and weights. The goal is commercialization in the second half of 2026. Accordingly, Hanmi Pharmaceutical plans to utilize digital therapeutic devices incorporating digital healthcare technology to maximize the effects of existing medical treatments and assist in weight loss and lifestyle improvement through an integrated management solution.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 13th that its anti-cancer candidate DWP216 has been selected as a project for the second national new drug development project in 2024, hosted by the National New Drug Development Project Group (KDDF). With this selection, Daewoong Pharmaceutical will receive research funding to conduct non-clinical trials over the next two years and plans to aggressively pursue the development of a high-efficacy anti-cancer drug targeting TEAD1. DWP216 targets tumor-suppressing gene NF2 mutant cancers and inhibits cancer cell growth by inhibiting TEAD. Unlike existing inhibitors that inhibit all types of TEAD, DWP216 is designed to selectively inhibit TEAD1, minimizing the risk of kidney damage while exhibiting strong anti-cancer effects, and is being evaluated as an innovative candidate substance.

First Bio Therapeutics announced on the 13th that it will jointly develop antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) anti-cancer drugs with Rigacom Bio. Through this collaboration, First Bio and Rigacom Bio will seek new approaches to overcome the toxicity and resistance issues identified as the limitations of existing ADC therapies. To this end, they plan to verify the potential for improvement by combining First Bio's new payload technology with Rigacom Bio's ADC platform technology.

HLB Pharmaceuticals announced on the 13th that it has registered a formulation patent for a long-acting injection for obesity and diabetes treatment based on GLP-1. The company previously applied for a formulation patent for another long-acting injection in the same class. HLB is currently developing GLP-1 obesity and diabetes treatments, as well as anticoagulants and dementia treatments, utilizing its self-developed long-acting injection production platform (SMEB). The registered patent not only allows for the continuous manufacture of uniform particles but also enhances the stability of the GLP-1 peptide drug for obesity and diabetes treatment throughout the manufacturing process, ensuring a uniform distribution of the drug within the particles for continuous and uniform release.

Jongkundang announced on the 13th that it has received an AA grade in the 2024 Fair Trade Compliance Program (CP) grade evaluation, which is conducted by the Fair Trade Commission. The CP grade evaluation is a system that assesses the operational performance of corporations that have introduced the Fair Trade Compliance Program for more than a year and annually determines grades for each corporation. Jongkundang has achieved AA grade for six consecutive times since first receiving it in 2016.

Yoo Bio Logistics announced on the 13th that its Chuncheon V Plant has received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. This certification was simultaneously received alongside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) GMP certification, and is seen as a reaffirmation of the company's global vaccine manufacturing and quality competitiveness. The EAEU has a total population of over 180 million, and the biopharmaceutical market is expected to grow rapidly alongside significant economic growth in the future. Based on this GMP certification, the company plans to expand various businesses such as exporting biopharmaceuticals, including vaccines, technology transfer, and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) to these countries.

Yuhan Foundation announced on the 13th that it has donated 1 billion won to the Korean Cancer Association to support cancer patients. This donation was made to assist cancer patients who are struggling with economic and psychological difficulties in undergoing treatment and to improve their treatment environment. The Yuhan Foundation was established in 1970 by the late Dr. Lee Il-han, the founder of Yuhan Pharmaceutical. Last year, it also donated 500 million won to support cancer patients' treatment costs.