Notable new drug approvals in South Korea last year included Pfizer’s Tukysa, Genentech’s Columvi and BeiGene’s Tevimbra, but the tally did not include any domestically-originated products. Alzheimer’s disease therapy lecanemab may be on the horizon this year.

South Korean firm AriBio is planning to expand global Phase III trials for its oral Alzheimer’s disease candidate following an IND approval at home. Patient enrolment in a US trial began late last year.

Korea Health Industry Development Institute President Soon-Do Cha talks to Scrip how the government agency’s support strategy to the domestic biopharma industry may be changing in line with the industry’s increased globalization move and how he views the country’s policy stance should improve going forward to meet its goal of becoming a strong biohealth nation.

Scrip wraps up major R&D and corporate developments for Korean biopharmas in 2022 and outlines what lies ahead for them in the new year.