Falling foreign investment and increasing business uncertainties in China could present new opportunities for the Korean biopharma sector, which is stepping up globalization and R&D efforts to seek growth.

Hyundai Bioscience’s niclosamide-based oral antiviral moves into Phase II, joining other Korean COVID-19 treatment candidates in the pivotal trial stages, while SK Bioscience’s Phase III recombinant protein vaccine gears up for global market entry.

Scrip takes a look at South Korea’s out-licensing deal trends for 2021, finding that more big transactions are likely as the year moves towards its close despite a wider global slowing in activity, helped by rising innovative R&D.

Relief for Helixmith’s management as voting at recent shareholders' meeting failed to remove top executives, including the South Korean biotech’s founder and CEO, following recent setbacks. But the future of the board may now depend largely on the success of the ongoing clinical trials for lead assets and stock price recovery.