Daewoong Bio announced on the 22nd that its diabetes medication generic, 'Posidapa,' has newly added chronic heart failure and kidney disease indications. With this addition of indications, Posidapa has received recognition for all indications of the original drug 'Posiga,' which had its reimbursement removed due to voluntary withdrawal in December of last year. The generic drug for Posiga was launched in 2023, but most of the generic drugs were prescribed only to patients with type 2 diabetes. With this new addition of indications, Posidapa can perfectly fill the prescription gap as an alternative to Posiga, which had its reimbursement removed in December of last year.
Humedix, the aesthetic subsidiary of Huons Group, announced on the 22nd that its renewed design for the vegan skincare 'Elavie ZERO Line' has been awarded 'Finalist' in the communication design category at the '2024 Pin-Up Design Awards.' The Pin-Up Design Awards is a design competition organized by the Korea Industrial Designers Association and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. A judging panel composed of experts in the design field selects award-winning entries based on criteria such as good design, design innovation, and design impact. The communication design category focuses on designs aimed at communication, such as branding and packaging. Recently, Humedix launched a renewed version of the Elavie ZERO Line, which pursues minimalism in vegan skincare products. The product design features a minimalist layout that applies the aesthetics of minimalism by excluding unnecessary elements.
The National Clinical Trial Support Foundation announced on the 22nd that it has signed a business agreement with the Flanders Investment and Trade Agency in Belgium to promote innovative drug development research and support domestic pharmaceutical corporations in expanding into the European market. The Flanders Investment and Trade Agency is a local government agency that supports Flemish companies' overseas expansion and foreign companies' investment attraction. Belgium has the highest number of clinical trials per capita in Europe, thanks to its quick clinical trial approval process and tax incentives, especially the Flanders region stands out in R&D and clinical trial fields. Through this agreement, the two institutions aim to promote the development of clinical trials in both countries, facilitate domestic pharmaceutical corporations' entry into the European market, and carry out mutual cooperation through various activities.
Inje University Busan Paik Hospital has introduced artificial intelligence (AI) software that monitors the conditions of hospitalized patients 24/7. The AI software adopted by the hospital is a new medical technology that analyzes patients' conditions in real time while also analyzing 19 medical information data of patients recorded in the electronic medical records (EMR). This data presents scores indicating the risk of severe events such as unexpected transfers to the intensive care unit, sepsis, cardiac arrest, and death. When a patient with a high likelihood of acute deterioration is identified, the rapid response team medical staff supports timely treatment and intervention through a cooperation system with the responsible medical staff. The rapid response team consists of doctors and dedicated nurses.
JW Shinyak announced on the 22nd that it will launch a renewed product of its hair loss treatment 'Dutamoa Jeong,' improving the convenience of intake by reducing the size of the formulation. The existing dimensions of 1.53 cm in width, 0.82 cm in length, and 0.62 cm in thickness have been reduced to sizes of 1.4 cm in width, 0.71 cm in length, and 0.47 cm in thickness, allowing for easier intake without the feeling of discomfort in the throat. Dutamoa Jeong is a non-reimbursable specialty medication containing dutasteride, which can only be prescribed for hair loss treatment. It is sold at a lower price compared to existing dutasteride treatments, which can be prescribed for both hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia, thereby reducing the economic burden on patients who need to take medication long-term.
Ildong Pharmaceutical's comprehensive healthcare platform company, Saelo MS (formerly Ildong eCommerce), announced on the 22nd that it will pursue a project to supply non-face-to-face medical kiosks. Saelo MS recently signed a partnership agreement with Entwize Solutions, a specialized company for the 'Smart Senior Center' project, to cooperate in distributing non-face-to-face medical kiosks aimed at medical blind spots and IT-vulnerable populations. Saelo MS has been operating 'Hoodak Care,' a non-face-to-face medical intermediary service. Entwize Solutions provides technical support and ancillary services such as education and counseling for local governments' smart senior center projects and Catholic University's non-face-to-face medical consultations based on its self-developed AI interactive video platform technology. The company plans to complete the production of the Hoodak Care kiosks by the end of the first quarter and utilize them for non-face-to-face medical consultations for the vulnerable population at senior centers, nursing homes, and welfare facilities nationwide.
MedioGen, a probiotics specialist company, announced on the 22nd that research results on its oral probiotics 'L. reuteri MG4722,' which effectively inhibit the growth of caries and periodontal disease-causing pathogens, have been published in Annals of Microbiology, an international SCI-accredited journal in microbiology. L. reuteri MG4722, which the company is developing, effectively inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of oral pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, by producing anti-pathogenic secondary metabolites. The safety profile confirmed that it is a safe probiotic with no antibiotic resistance or toxicity. Through this, MedioGen aims to accelerate the development of probiotics specialized for enhancing oral health.
GC Biopharma announced on the 22nd that it will participate for the fourth consecutive year in the Medlab Middle East 2025, the largest diagnostic and medical device exhibition in the Middle East. Medlab is the world's largest diagnostic professional exhibition held primarily for Middle Eastern and African countries, and it will take place from March 3 to 6 at the Dubai World Trade Center. GC Biopharma has been participating in Medlab annually since 2022 to strengthen cooperation with existing partner companies and to explore new business opportunities in the global market. This year, GC Biopharma will operate a standalone booth and engage in marketing activities focusing on test items optimized for the Middle East market's demands and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease tests and heavy metal tests.
Mediana, a medical device company, announced on the 22nd that it will participate in 'Arab Health 2025,' the largest medical device exhibition in the Middle East, being held at the Dubai World Trade Center for four days starting on the 27th to expand its customer base in the region. Mediana plans to showcase 'the best emergency medical solution' at the exhibition, featuring automatic external defibrillators (AED) and advanced defibrillators (MDD). The automatic external defibrillator is usable at a 60-degree angle. It is optimized for the high temperatures in the Middle East and can be installed in any public facility, such as airports, train stations, and sports venues. Additionally, through the AED remote management system (RMS), the company can efficiently manage AED devices installed at various locations, including their operational status and usage history.
HK inno.N announced on the 22nd that it will hold an event for users of the MMORPG 'Prasia: The Beginning,' developed by Nexon. Customers who purchase the drink containing the new class 'Abyss Exile' will receive items and lucky box coupons that can be used in the game. The event period is from February 18 to March 26, and the product will be available for purchase at convenience stores nationwide.
Dong-A ST held a ceremony on the 21st to declare the strengthening of its fair trading compliance program at the Gonjiam Resort in Gyeonggi Province. The ceremony was attended by President Chung Jae-hoon, R&D Senior Vice President Park Jae-hong, department heads of management, sales, research, development, and production, as well as staff from departments managing and supporting sales activities.
Roeun Surgical, a robotic surgery platform company, announced on the 22nd that it conducted its first overseas clinical live procedure of the AI-based kidney stone surgery robot Zamenix in Thailand. This demonstration was held in conjunction with the International Robotic Surgery and Urology Symposium (RIRS2025) at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, on the 20th and 21st. This symposium was established to share medical advancements in robotic and endoscopic urologic surgeries. The live surgery of Zamenix marked its first public demonstration in Asian countries, generating substantial interest from medical personnel in Southeast Asian nations. The company explained that the necessity and potential of Zamenix were proven in the Southeast Asia region, where the prevalence of kidney stones is high due to the hot climate and minerals in drinking water.