Boryung announced on the 18th the launch of 'Ravetricks Capsule', a combination of aspirin and rabeprazole. Ravetricks is a product designed to improve gastrointestinal bleeding that may occur with aspirin intake by using rabeprazole. Administering rabeprazole along with aspirin can reduce the recurrence rate of gastric ulcers and improve damage to the gastric and duodenal mucosa. Ravetricks is prescribed for patients who are at risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and require aspirin therapy.
ENCell noted on the 18th that it has completed the patent application for adenoviral (AAV) platform technology for the treatment of hereditary retinal degeneration at the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Hereditary retinal degeneration (IRD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the progressive destruction of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells due to the death of photoreceptor cells in the eye. ENCell's research team secured a candidate AAV vector capable of delivering to photoreceptor cells in the eye and has applied for this patent. This platform technology can enhance the precise and efficient gene delivery and expression to ocular cells or tissues. ENCell plans to develop the AAV-based gene therapy field as a new growth engine.
CLASSYS announced on the 18th that it aims to achieve sales of 350 billion won this year while targeting the United States, Europe, and Japan as major markets. CLASSYS has set its sales guidance for this year at 350 billion won, reflecting a 44% increase from the previous year. The company expects that this year's operating profit margin will improve from the 48.1% operating profit margin achieved in the fourth quarter of last year, driven by increased production efficiency and the number of procedures. CLASSYS will accelerate global sales by establishing operations in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Medytox Aesthetics Korea stated on the 18th that its visible ultrasound lifting device 'Ultherapy Prime™' received domestic approval in January and is scheduled for formal launch in mid-March. Ultherapy Prime™ is an ultrasound lifting medical device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It delivers precise and targeted high-intensity focused ultrasound energy to the desired depths within the skin, producing lifting effects. The device features 'DeepSEE™' real-time imaging technology, which offers nearly double the ultrasound field of view compared to existing real-time ultrasound imaging, without visual noise.
JW Pharmaceutical announced on the 18th that its public foundation, the JW Lee Jong-ho Foundation, has begun soliciting candidates for the 'JW Sungcheon Prize'. The JW Sungcheon Prize was established in 2012 to promote the 'respect for life' spirit and philosophy of the late Honorary Chairman Lee Jong-ho, founder of the company. It is awarded annually to medical professionals who contribute to the welfare of humanity, serving as role models in society. This year's nomination for the JW Sungcheon Prize will run until the 14th of next month. To submit a nomination, forms can be downloaded from the JW Lee Jong-ho Foundation's website and submitted via email or postal mail.
STCube announced on the 18th that it has submitted the investigational new drug (IND) application for 'Nelmaztobat', a drug under development for treating metastatic colorectal cancer, to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This clinical trial will be conducted as a company-led trial (SIT). The company explained that this process is aimed at securing data that meets the regulatory standards of global regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and enhancing competitiveness in negotiations for technology exports with multinational pharmaceutical companies. The trial will target patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer who have shown resistance or intolerability to oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based chemotherapy and will be conducted at five university hospitals in South Korea, including Korea University Anam Hospital.
Roche Korea announced on the 18th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Regulatory Science Center to foster regulatory science talent. According to the agreement, both institutions will collaborate on operating internship programs for regulatory science graduate students and exchanging information on the latest trends in regulatory science related to new drug clinical development and approvals.
The National Health Insurance Corporation announced on the 18th that it has been selected as an excellent institution for three consecutive years in the '2024 Data-Based Administration Status Inspection' conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The corporation was recognized for its achievements in enhancing administrative efficiency through data-based operations. Additionally, it received positive evaluations for its early detection of mental health issues using health insurance big data and for developing policy improvements to prepare for an aging society through research in the long-term care field for the elderly.
The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service announced on the 18th that it has brought about changes to promote intergenerational integration between community children and the elderly through the intergenerational project 'The-Connection', which started last year. This project aims to unite community children and seniors through joint activities, spreading a sense of community. The project, initiated last year in partnership with three institutions, including the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, workplace daycare center, and Wonju Senior Welfare Center, has paired 36 children with 36 seniors for 24 exchanges over the year. As a result, the children's social-emotional development scores increased by 13%, and seniors' life satisfaction and happiness levels rose by 16%. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service plans to expand the number of participating institutions and diversify the program this year to allow more participants to join.
The Korean Diabetes Association announced on the 18th that it will operate a pop-up store with a bookstore concept called 'Blood Sugar Bookstore' until the 16th of next month to raise awareness about the importance of blood sugar health. The Blood Sugar Bookstore will take place at Kyobo Bookstore's Gangnam branch, showcasing blood sugar management indicators and health information, along with a display of relevant books. Collaborating with Jeonggwanjang, an event will be held where visitors can find and submit hidden phrases to receive sample products from the blood sugar care specialty brand 'GLPro'. On the 22nd and March 8 at 3 p.m., expert health lectures on blood sugar management will be conducted featuring the artificial intelligence (AI)-based blood sugar management application 'Pasta' developed by Kakao.