AID FOR ECUADOR EARTHQUAKE — Dongwon Industries CEO Lee Myoung-woo (right) delivers $150,000 to the Ecuadorian ambassador to Korea Oscar Herrera Gilbert in Seoul on Monday. Dongwon is delivering the funds to aid relief efforts to help those affected by a 7.8-magintude earthquake that hit Ecuador on Apr.16. (Dongwon Group)

CHINESE-PACKED DUTY-FREE SHOP -- Hundreds of Chinese tourists shop at a major duty-free store in Seoul on Sunday morning. Around 63,000 Chinese tourists are estimated to be visiting Korea during the Chinese Labor Day holiday (April 30 - May 2). (Yonhap)

Samsung BioLogics confirmed Thursday morning that it will officially pursue an initial public offering on South Korea’s main bourse KOSPI. 　(Samsung BioLogics)The decision will be confirmed at the company’s board meeting today, which starts at 9 a.m., Korean time. The firm will reveal the specific details of its scheduled IPO after the meeting concludes.By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)

삼성전자가 스위스 명품 쥬얼리 및 시계 업체인 ‘드 그리소고노’와 손잡고 올해 하반기에 선보일 ‘기어S3’ 스마트 워치의 한정판 럭셔리 모델을 출시한다.　　지난 주 서울에서 열린 컨데나스트 인터네셔널 럭셔리 컨퍼런스에 참석한 드 그리소고노 관계자는 “현재 삼성과 함께 차세대 스마트워치 출시를 위해 협업 중”이라고 본지 기자에게 밝혔다.　　업계에 따르면 한정판 삼성 기어S3는 내년 3월에 스위스에서 열릴 세계 최대 규모 시계 박람회인 ‘바젤월드 2017’때 출시될 가능성이 높다. 삼성은 올해 9월 열릴 세계 소비자가전 박람회 IFA(이파) 2016에서 일반 기어S3를 선보일 것으로 예상된다.   지난 달 출시된 100여개의 다이아몬드가 박힌 한정판 삼성 기어S2 (드 그리시고노 웹사이트)　럭셔리 한정판 기어S3는 삼성과 드 그리소고노의 두 번째 공식 합작품이다. 양사는 지난 3월 세계 최대 규모 시계 박람회인 ‘바젤월드 2016’ 에서 100여개 이상의 블랙∙화이트 다이아몬드 장식이

HANNOVER, Germany (AP) -- President Barack Obama mounted a strong defense of international trade deals Sunday in the face of domestic and foreign opposition, saying it‘s ``indisputable’‘ that such agreements strengthen the economy and make U.S. businesses more competitive worldwide. But he acknowledged that the clock is ticking on his faltering trade agenda. 　 　Obama, on a farewell visit to Germany as president, is trying to light a fire under stalled talks about a trans-Atlantic trade deal, a m

The fate of Korea’s two largest container carriers, which handle the bulk of Korea’s exports, now rests in the hands of creditors, after years of overcapacity and slowing trade globally led to a free fall in shipping prices.　Hanjin Shipping, the nation’s No. 1 carrier by capacity, on Monday officially filed for creditor-led rehabilitation, becoming the second major shipping line to succumb to a mountain of debt this year. 　Along with the application for debt restructuring, the firm submitted a w

Around half of South Korean biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies currently do not generate any sales, according to a recent report by the Korea Industrial Technology Association.　Of some 226 local bio companies surveyed by KOITA, 45.6 percent do not generate any sales today. Among those which do, 18.7 percent said that they began generating sales less than a year ago.　A majority of Korean bio firms surveyed were found to be small or midsized as well. Around 66.4 percent of the surveyed c

삼성바이오에피스의 류머티즘 관절염 치료 바이오시밀러 (바이오의약품 복제약) ‘베네팔리’가 덴마크 의약품 국가 입찰에서 에타너셉트 (etanercept) 치료물질 부문의 대표 의약품으로 선정 되었다.　　12일 덴마크 바이오의약품 입찰기관 앰그로스 (Amgros) 및 업계 관계자에 따르면 베네팔리는 암젠이 개발한 오리지널 의약품 ‘엔브렐’을 제치고 해당 의약품 부문의 우선 치료제로 선정 되었다.　본 관계자는 “덴마크 내 의사 및 병원들은 통상 국가 입찰에서 선정된 의약품 처방을 선호한다”며 “앞으로 베네팔리는 덴마크 내 엔브렐 시장의 약 50%를 선점할 수 있을 것”이라고 전망했다.(삼성바이오에피스 제공)　또한 “덴마크는 유럽 내 비교적 작은 시장이지만 타 국가에 비해 바이오시밀러 처방율이 가장 빠르게 증가하고 있는 곳이다”며 베네팔리의 판매 전망에 대해 긍정적인 의견을 표했다.　향후 베네팔리는 삼성바이오에피스의 유럽 마케팅 및 판매 협력사인 바이오젠을 통해 덴마크에서 판매될 예정이다.

SK Chemicals, a pharmaceutical affiliate of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, on Sunday said it has submitted its patch-type Alzheimer’s drug SID710 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.　SID710 is a generic drug referencing Novartis’ Exelon Patch (rivastigmine), a transdermal medication to treat dementia symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.SK Chemicals` patch-type Alzheimer`s medication S170 (SK Chemicals)　The Korean drug maker expects the FDA to grant approval in 201

With health becoming a priority for most people around the world, some turn to taking dietary supplements as a potential means to make up for their otherwise unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles. 　However, supplements are by no means a substitute for a balanced meal or physical activity as there are absolutely no shortcuts to health, according to Amway-based Nutrilite Health Institute’s technology strategist.　“Supplements are not magic bullets. They are not miracles. They are merely products m