Financing for Korean bioventures and pharma firms remained strong this year amid ample liquidity and strong investor sentiment in the sector. SK Bioscience's IPO was the top fundraiser in 2021, followed by HK inno.N’s offering, while GI Innovation raised the most money from venture capital sources.

AB Science’s top-line results from a Phase III study suggest its lead candidate masitinib may be of benefit when combined with docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with early metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Private Company Edition: VC mega-rounds boosted the Q1 2021 total. Also, new funds from Versant, The Column Group and Rapha Capital keep cash flowing into biopharma; up to $525m is invested in Exscientia; and Arch Oncology and Boundless Bio raised $105m each, while Forge brought in $120m.

Taysha gains control of GAN candidate and program; BI licenses COMT inhibitors from Lieber Institute; plus three new gene therapy-driven tie-ups between biopharma and academia.