Celltrion said Monday that it applied for the European Medicine Agency’s commercialization approval of CT-P17, a Humira (adalimumab) biosimilar. CT-P17 is a highly potent biosimilar of AbbVie’s autoimmune disease treatment Humira, a blockbuster original that recorded $19.1 billion global revenue in 2019. If approved, the CT-P17 will be a meaningful addition to Celltrion’s portfolio for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease treatment, alongside the company’

South Korea’s state-run research institutes and pharmaceutical firms are working hard to find a cure for the new coronavirus, according to news reports Monday. Around 15 firms and four institutes here are burning the midnight oil to get an effective cure, according to Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association. KPBMA Chairman Won Hee-mok emphasized the synergies between private and public research bodies in yielding a faster outcome. The association identified Korean

Lotte Himart Co., South Korea's leading home appliance store chain, said Sunday it will offer a voluntary retirement program to its employees due to deepening losses. Some 80 employees who have worked for the company for more than 25 years and are aged 50 or older are eligible for the voluntary retirement schemes, a Lotte Himart spokesman said. The company plans to provide those who agree to retire early with severance pay according to their overall working years, a sizable compensation and

Amid the prolonged outbreak of the COVID-19, South Korean businesses are extending telecommuting and flexible work hours for employees in various forms to prevent further spread. While the companies are putting such measures temporarily in support of the so-called “social distancing” campaign promoted by the government to keep people from gathering in large crowds, some companies are taking it as an opportunity to seriously consider plans to build virtual and smart work systems.

South Korea’s largest gateway begins full-fledged temperature monitoring program of all outbound passengers

Samsung to temporarily cut production of Galaxy S20 in Gumi, produce more in Vietnam

South Korea’s aviation industry is likely to see losses from the coronavirus outbreak snowball to at least 5 trillion won ($4.2 billion) by June, according to industry sources on Sunday. With more international routes shutting down as countries announce entry bans on people traveling from Korea, at least 5.8 trillion won of losses are expected from the country’s eight air carriers, based on the calculation from their flight records as of the fourth week of February.  But such

Korean, Singaporean and Thai telecom companies join hands

Knowing your nature can change your nurture for the best, says Theragen Etex CEO

Samsung temporarily moves smartphone production to Vietnam over virus case Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday it will temporarily move some of its smartphone production to Vietnam, after shutting down a local factory following a positive coronavirus test there. Samsung shut down the factory in the southeastern city of Gumi after a worker tested positive for the new coronavirus. Samsung said the plant will be closed through Saturday, while the floor where the employee worked will be shuttered

Asiana Airlines said it will suspend all flights to Japan until the end of this month, the first in 30 years since it started services amid Japan’s new entry restrictions against South Koreans. The airliner, which had downsized its Japanese routes to eight routes, six cities, said it will stop flying to Japan starting Monday through March. 31 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak shock. This is the first time the airliner has halted every routes to Japan since it initiated flight

Samsung Group’s seven-member compliance committee on Thursday announced three major agendas after its first meeting. The newly established committee addressed issues related to corporate succession, labor unions and communication with the local society. The committee said it will deliver detailed proposals to Samsung’s de facto leader Lee Jae-yong, all Samsung affiliates and press outlets as soon as possible. Led by former Supreme Court Justice Kim Ji-hyung, the committee added

Japan's entry restrictions for visitors from South Korea are dealing another blow to airlines and travel agencies already hit by the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak, the companies said Friday. Local airlines and travel agencies have been struggling with a sharp decline in air travel demand for more than a month after South Korea's first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on Jan. 20. Adding to their woes, Japan announced Thursday that visitors from South Korea and China will have to stay

Samsung Electronics on Friday launched its flagship smartphone Galaxy S20 models in 20 nations, including the US, Canada, Singapore, Vietnam, Puerto Rico and others -- with plans to release them in 130 nations by end-March. The new smartphone model comes in three types: 6.2-inch Galaxy S20, 6.7-inch S20 Plus and the 6.9-inch S20 Ultra. All the three variants support 5G network and camera system that utilizes artificial intelligence technology and the company’s high-end image sensor. Ho

South Korean movie theater chains are screening past blockbusters and classics as the spreading coronavirus has been keeping people from local cinemas. The 2004 fantasy film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" made a return to the South Korean silver screen in 4DX on Feb. 26. The 4DX version of part three of the tale of teenage wizardry is popular among long-time "Harry Potter" fans, who enjoy the physical effects such as sprays of wind and water and chair movements