Industry leaders including Sanofi's ex-CEO and the chiefs of Sun, Lupin, Glenmark, Dr Reddy’s and Cipla discuss how India could leapfrog its pharma R&D efforts. Could the South Korea model or a hybrid approach including bringing back top talent bolster the country’s efforts to emerge as a global innovation hot spot?

SK Biopharmaceuticals advances into the Greater China market via a CNS focused Chinese company with China’s 6 Dimensions Capital, backed by a large series A financing. It has also licensed its CNS therapy pipeline to the new Chinese operation.

Two SK Group affiliates benefit from COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing activities and US sales of novel drugs, while other factors such as a recovery in prescription sales, new launches and falling milestone payments affected results at other traditional South Korean pharma firms in the second quarter.

Mergers and acquisitions are set to gain momentum in South Korea as firms outside the sector seek new growth engines and more open-minded biopharma companies seek rapid growth and globalization.