■Samsung Biologics recently announced on the 24th that the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Noh Kyun has received a commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor at the awards ceremony for outstanding contributions to industrial accident prevention hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Additionally, on the 9th, Samsung Biologics also received the grand prize at the '2025 Large and Small Enterprises Safety and Health Cooperative Excellence Case Presentation Competition' held by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA) in celebration of the 'Industrial Safety and Health Month.' The company was recognized for building a proactive risk management system using advanced technology under the philosophy that 'safety is paramount.' Notable examples include a self-developed wireless fire detection system, an artificial intelligence (AI) closed-circuit television (CCTV) based personal protective equipment monitoring system, and a computerized system for counting evacuees quickly and accurately in case of an emergency.
■Yuhan Corporation announced on the 24th that it will proceed with the renovation of its old office building in celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2026. The old office building is located right next to the current headquarters building in Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. The renovation will transform the old building into two structures, three and four stories tall, expanded by one floor each, with a total area of 11,948 square meters and a building area of 4,492 square meters. The old office served as both an office and production facility for about 35 years from 1962 to 1997 and holds significant historical value. The outer wall will be preserved as much as possible, while the interior will undergo modern renovations. The renovation work on the old building aims for completion before the anniversary of its founding on June 20th of next year.
■ENCell recently submitted a patent to the Korean Intellectual Property Office for the key platform technology of their AAV (Adeno-Associated Virus) based gene therapy aimed at treating muscle-related genetic diseases, titled 'Chimera promoter for muscle-specific expression and the AAV-based gene expression system using it.' The 'muscle-specific expression regulation technology' developed through ENCell's own research in this patent is a core platform technology that can overcome the limitations of existing AAV gene therapies, targeting both skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle while suppressing expression in non-target organs like the liver and testes, thus significantly reducing toxicity risk and addressing the critical weaknesses of AAV-based gene therapies.
■Seegene announced on the 24th that it will unveil its automated PCR system 'CURECA™' and diagnostic data analysis platform 'STAgora™' at the ADLM 2025 (Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine) to be held in Chicago, USA. CURECA is the world's first fully automated system that automates the entire PCR testing process, from sample storage and preprocessing to nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and result analysis, all without human intervention. This system can conduct continuous testing for 24 hours, minimizing human error and significantly increasing the consistency and reliability of test results.
■ABL Bio announced on the 24th that it will introduce its blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform Grabody-B at the 'Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025' scheduled to be held in Toronto, Canada, from July 27 to 31 (local time). At this event, ABL Bio plans to present non-clinical data on Grabody-B's ability to sustain antibody delivery to the brain in aged mice under the theme 'IGF1R-based shuttle Grabody-B, a novel multi-transcytosis pathway.' Grabody-B targets the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) to facilitate the effective passage of drugs across the BBB and their delivery to the brain.
■Dong Kook Lifescience announced on the 24th that it has resolved to conduct a 100% free issuance of new shares, allocating one new share for each existing share, through its board meeting. Consequently, the total number of common shares issued by Dong Kook Lifescience will increase from 15.99 million to 31.98 million. According to the company, this free issuance aims to enhance shareholder return policies and expand the volume of shares available for transaction, thereby promoting trading. The record date for the new share allocation is set for August 8, with the new shares expected to be listed on August 29. After the free issuance, the capital will increase from approximately 8 billion won to 16 billion won.
■KOLON Life Science announced on the 24th that its Chungju factory has recently obtained certification for manufacturing and quality control standards (GMP) from the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). The company secured its eligibility to supply APIs stably to the Brazilian market after being listed in the Brazilian official gazette as a GMP certified company on the 14th. The certification is valid until July 14, 2027. The certified product is the API 'Pitavastatin Calcium Hydrate' for treating hyperlipidemia. Recent increases in demand globally for pitavastatin are attributed to the exacerbating aging population and changes in dietary habits, which lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease patients.
■Neurophet announced on the 24th that it will unveil its main brain imaging analysis AI solution at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC 2025). At this conference, Neurophet will showcase 'Neurophet AQUA AD,' a software capable of prescribing dementia treatments and monitoring treatment effects and side effects. Neurophet AQUA AD provides precise brain imaging analysis capabilities across the administration of anti-amyloid antibody treatments by quantitatively analyzing MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) images.
■Global medical company Olympus Korea announced on the 24th that its next-generation ultrasound endoscope processor 'EU-ME3' has been introduced to Soonchunhyang University's Bucheon Hospital, the first of its kind in domestic medical institutions. This introduction marks the first clinical application of the 'EU-ME3,' released in Korea last June, which will significantly enhance the capacity for precise diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic and biliary diseases. It is expected to improve the early detection of diseases and the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment through sharp image quality and various new features.