[THE INVESTOR] Korea Kolmar has signed an agreement with Abbott Korea for the exclusive supply of drugs, it announced on July 27. It will be a contract manufacturing organization for two treatments for central nerve system disorder, including Aerica capsule that contains the active substance pregabalin. Kolmar Korea’s own lab developed the pharmaceutical preparation and it has been approved to manufacture the drug.The domestic market for pregabalin, known to be effective for reducing central neu

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics, the biosimilar drug producer of Samsung Group, is expected to make its long-awaited stock debut on Korea’s main bourse KOSPI in November. According to industry sources on July 27, the company will submit its IPO application on Aug. 2 that will be reviewed by the Korea Exchange for 45 days. Samsung BioLogics plantBioLogics’ stock debut will become this year’s largest IPO in Korea after the much-hyped 5 trillion won (US$4.40 billion) IPO of Hotel Lotte was delayed

[THE INVESTOR] BIT Computer has received a 2 billion won (US$1.76 million) order to supply telemedicine system from the Mongolian government, it announced on July 19. The government is building a new National Diagnostic and Treatment Center in its capital Ulaanbataar and aims to provide remote medical treatment in cooperation with 12 medical facilities nearby. The company already has won the contract for information system for the state hospital. BIT Computer is a leader in medical information m

[THE INVESTOR] Propelled by Samsung Bioepis and Celltrion, South Korean biopharmaceutical companies are gaining a foothold in Europe with their biosimilars, cheaper copycat versions of biologics. Celltrion’s Remsima -- biosimilar replication of rheumatoid arthritis treatment drug Remicade -- and Samsung Bioepis’ Benepali -- biosimilar copy of Amgen’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment Enbrel – along with Flixabi, another Remicade biosimilar, are already selling in Europe, one of the world’ largest m

[THE INVESTOR] Boryung Biopharma is to research immune cell treatments using umbilical cord blood in collaboration with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.The company said on July 14, that it signed an agreement with the hospital to conduct research in a 5-year project aimed at developing a range of treatments for immune cells. By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion has increased its market presence in Europe with biosimilar Remsima, the company said on July 14. Celltrion’s Remsima -- biosimilar replication of the world’s third best-selling rheumatoid arthritis treatment drug Remicade, or Infliximab -- has captured a 30 percent share of the overall Infliximab market in Europe, according to IMS Health, a market data provider. Celltrion's biosimilar RemsimaThe latecomer Remsima began selling in E

[THE INVESTOR] Kolon Life Science has filed for government approval for a drug it developed to treat degenerative arthritis, the company said on July 11. After 17 years of research, the pharmaceutical company introduced Invossa, Korea’s first gene therapy for degenerative arthritis. The new drug injects healthy human cartilage cells into the space between the bones to alleviate pain and treat the major symptoms. It can also be an alternative for surgical treatment, according to Kolon Life Scienc

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s Cha University has been granted conditional permit to carry out research using human embryos, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on July 11. The research will be carried out using somatic cell nuclear transfer method. The method transfers the nucleus, which contains the majority of human genetic information, from a somatic cell into an ovum whose nucleus has been removed. Pixabay.comThis is the first time research using human embryos has been permitted in Korea

[THE INVESTOR] Korean pharma firm Green Cross Labcell has applied for international patent protection for its natural killer cells that treat cancer patients, the company said on July 8.The Green Cross affiliate had extracted cord blood from healthy donors to generate natural killer cells, a type of white blood cells in the immune system that attacks infections and potentially cancer-causing cell. Institute of Cell Therapy at the Green Cross LabcellThe cord blood-derived natural killer cells, wh

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean government aims to boost cosmetics exports to US$ 7 billion by 2018 through deregulation and by supporting export activities. Last year, Korea’s cosmetics exports came in at US$ 2.6 billion. The plans were revealed at the pan-government conference on boosting exports and investment held in Seoul on July 7. As part of the measures, cosmetics producers, universities and research organizations will be allowed to submit products they develop for government certification r