Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 26th that it has surpassed 1,500 cases of radiation embolization for liver cancer. Radiation embolization is a treatment method that destroys tumors in the body using small particles combined with radioactive isotopes. It can be performed with only local anesthesia and has fewer side effects compared to the chemotherapy embolization that uses anticancer drugs. The liver cancer center at Seoul National University Hospital started performing radiation embolization in 2011, conducting 303 cases last year alone. The center has been taking the lead in sharing experiences by operating training for radiology specialists in the Asia region based on the expertise it has built up over the years.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 26th that it held its 23rd regular shareholders' meeting at its headquarters in Seoul. At this shareholders' meeting, all three agenda items were approved as originally proposed, and Professor Kwon Soon-yong from Seoul St. Mary's Hospital was appointed as a new outside director. The limits for the compensation of directors and auditors were approved at the same level as the previous year. Daewoong Pharmaceutical also reported its performance from the previous year at this meeting. Last year's consolidated sales were 1.4227 trillion won, an increase of 3.4% compared to the previous year, while operating profit rose by 20.7% to 147.9 billion won, and the operating margin was 10.4%. CEO Lee Chang-jae noted that the company aims to foster global blockbuster new drugs through its '1 product, 1 trillion' vision to achieve annual sales of 1 trillion won with a single item, stating that it will realize sustainable growth through global competitiveness that does not stop changing and innovating.
Huons Group's KOSDAQ-listed companies, Huons, Humedix, and HuM&C, announced on the 26th that they held their respective regular shareholders' meetings and board meetings at the Huons Global headquarters in Pangyo. At this shareholders' meeting, all agenda items for the three listed companies were approved as originally proposed. Huons, a key operating company of Huons Group, approved financial statements, dividends (cash dividend of 330 won per share), by-law amendments, partitioning mergers, reduction of capital reserves, the appointment of Song Su-young, Yoon In-sang, and Park Kyung-mi as internal directors, the appointment of Yoon Sung-tae as other non-executive director, the appointment of Lee Moon-seong as external director, the appointment of Lee Moon-seong to the audit committee, the appointment of Park Yong-gon as an external director who will be a member of the audit committee, and approval of the limit on director compensation, all passed as originally proposed. Humedix and HuM&C also passed all agenda items, including the appointment of internal and external directors.
Ildong Pharmaceutical and Ildong Holdings announced on the 26th that they held their respective regular general meetings of shareholders at Ildong Pharmaceutical's headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul. At Ildong Pharmaceutical's 9th regular shareholders' meeting, all agenda items, including the approval of financial statements, partial amendments to the by-laws, and appointments of directors and auditors, were approved as originally proposed. The by-law amendment item aims to set a record date and provide prior notice to ensure that shareholders and investors can confirm dividends and make decisions regarding investments. It also includes the establishment of provisions concerning interim dividends.
Doctor Now announced on the 26th that it ranked first in the brand awareness survey for medical services conducted through the research firm Open Survey, claiming to be the 'brand that comes to mind first when feeling unwell.' This survey was conducted in February among 1,000 people aged 20 and older across the country. Doctor Now has ranked first in the list of brands that come to mind when feeling unwell for two consecutive years. The response rate increased from 34% last year to 40% this year. In the open-ended response section asking about the usage status of remote healthcare services, such as the 'most frequently sought telemedicine service' and 'most commonly used telemedicine service,' more than 49% of respondents selected Doctor Now.
Genome & Company's cosmetic brand 'Uique' announced on the 26th that it signed a distribution agreement with the Japanese distributor 'IK Corporation' to launch its offline channels in Japan. IK Corporation, a subsidiary of Tokyo-listed IK Holdings Co Ltd, is a distribution company that has achieved rapid growth in K-beauty with brands such as MA:NYO and Skin Food in Japan. Uique plans to aggressively expand sales channels in collaboration with the specialized distributor IK, including variety shops and drugstore channels. Through this agreement, Uique will simultaneously launch its products in 100 offline stores, including Japan's representative lifestyle editing shops, Loft and Plaza, starting in April, and plans to penetrate the Japanese market with its flagship products, the Biome Barrier Cream Mist and 'Vitamin C Serum Mist.'
VORONOI announced on the 26th that it has received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the clinical trial plan (IND) for VRN10, a HER2-positive solid tumor treatment. Previously, it received IND approval in Australia in December. The Phase 1 clinical trial of VRN10 is scheduled to be conducted at five institutions in Korea and Australia, targeting around 72 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and other solid tumors. Patient dosing in Australia is currently underway. VORONOI plans to present its non-clinical data for VRN10 and key pipeline research results at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to be held in Chicago, USA, starting next month on the 25th.
STCube announced on the 26th that it will present two abstracts at the '2025 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2025)' to be held in Chicago from the 25th to the 30th. This study identifies BTN1A1 as a key regulator that increases the malignancy of cancer and induces resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, suggesting wide-ranging expansion possibilities for anti-BTN1A1 immunotherapy. The first presentation topic will be 'Expression of BTN1A1 and YAP1 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer and results of the phase 1b trial of nelmastrobat.' A key poster presentation will focus on the expression patterns of BTN1A1 and YAP1 that emerged in the investigator-initiated phase 1b colorectal cancer study conducted to assess the efficacy of the combination therapy of nelmastrobat and capecitabine, highlighting its potential as a new biomarker.
Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital announced on the 26th that it has expanded its dedicated beds for chemotherapy treatment. Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital's cancer center has reinforced facilities and personnel, increasing the number of chemotherapy treatment beds from 18 to 26. This expansion aims to shorten the waiting time for chemotherapy patients and create a more comfortable and efficient treatment environment. The expanded chemotherapy treatment area has added eight beds and recliners where patients can lie down or lean back during treatment. Specialized personnel will also be on-site to manage the patient's condition in real-time.
Pharos iBio announced on the 26th that it will present the results of preclinical studies for 'PHI-501' for refractory lung cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2025). As the company moves towards entering clinical trials for PHI-501, it expects that interest in innovative anticancer drug development and the potential for global market penetration will increase following this presentation. Pharos iBio plans to demonstrate the excellent anticancer efficacy of PHI-501, which overcomes the limitations of existing treatments in KRAS mutant lung cancer, and present new therapeutic possibilities.
Konkuk University Hospital announced on the 26th that Professor Jeong So-jeong from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine has received the '2nd Moonseok Academic Award' from the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Professor Jeong was recognized for her research on 'Allostasis of Excess Nutrients according to the Life Cycle Flow of Growth and Aging.' This research intensively analyzed the importance of preventive management based on the physiological adaptation concept of obesity. Professor Jeong emphasized that a preventive approach starting from adolescence and early adulthood is crucial for maintaining lifelong health. This approach signifies a shift from the existing fragmented treatment-focused obesity management to a more comprehensive life-cycle strategy. The Moonseok Academic Award was established to honor the late Moonseok Lee Tae-hee and is awarded to researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of obesity-related studies.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 26th that it has published 'Guidelines for Infection Disease Diagnosis and Antibiotic Use in Long-term Care Hospitals' in collaboration with the Korean Society of Antimicrobial Therapy. These guidelines were created to provide instructions on the appropriate use of antibiotics in long-term care hospitals, where there is a lack of personnel for appropriate antibiotic use and diagnostic infrastructure. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the amount of antibiotics used in long-term care hospitals is higher than in acute hospitals, but the appropriateness of prescriptions stands at a low level of 35.2%. The agency has developed clinical pathway-type guidelines for four diseases commonly occurring in long-term care hospitals. To make it easily accessible for healthcare professionals working at long-term care hospitals, the guidelines have been created in the form of posters and booklets. The guidelines can be downloaded directly from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's website.
The Busan Headquarters of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service announced on the 26th that it will hold the '11th Review and Assessment Academy' lectures on the 21st and 22nd of next month. On the 21st, the lectures will target general hospitals, clinics, and hospitals, while the 22nd will be for long-term care hospitals. The lectures will cover various topics, including review of long-term care insurance costs, local investigations, self-inspections, appropriateness evaluations, and activities for improving medical quality, as well as revisions of benefit standards. Applications for academy participation can be submitted online from the 27th to the 4th of next month. Further details can be found in the announcements on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's website.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 26th that it has issued guidelines to help developers of artificial intelligence (AI) medical devices easily verify global regulatory standards. These guidelines were developed after the ministry actively participated in the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Medical Device Working Group over the past two years. The guidelines outline ten key principles that should be considered in all processes involved in the development, learning, validation, and clinical application of AI (machine learning) medical devices. The ministry expects these guidelines will help domestic AI medical device companies develop excellent products that are compliant with international standards.
Gachon University Gil Medical Center announced on the 26th that it held a ceremony to celebrate the 67th anniversary of its founding at Gachon Hall on the 11th floor of the emergency center. More than 400 people attended, including Lee Gil-yeo, the founder of the hospital and chairman of the Gachon Medical Foundation (president of Gachon University). During the ceremony, awards were presented to employees who have done their best in their respective areas of work. Awarded employees received applause for categories such as outstanding exemplary employees, long-service awards (30 years, 20 years, 10 years, 5 years), outstanding professors elected by votes from employees, merit awards, outstanding partner company awards, outstanding employees of partner companies, volunteer awards, and awards for outstanding departments and staff in hand hygiene performance. There was also a session to introduce the new medical staff who joined Gachon University Gil Medical Center in the first half of 2025.