Korean companies, including large conglomerates and non-biopharmas, are increasingly jumping into biologics manufacturing through cross-border acquisitions following the successes of Samsung and SK.

Astellas subsidiary Xyphos will partner with GO to discover novel antibodies against two glycoprotein targets. SciNeuro picks up abandoned GSK programs in cardiovascular medicine for potential use in the neurodegeneration space.

Scrip takes a look at the landscape of the South Korean gene and cell therapy sector, which is under the spotlight with the implementation of a new cutting-edge biologics law.

Novartis among the first to benefit with approvals for Zolgensma, Kymriah, and Luxturna. The new law has also enabled its first clinical trial – a Phase Ib study by Seoul National University of a CAR-T therapy for recurrent or refractory, CD19-positive, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.