US FDA oversees plants straining to meet demand for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, while cracking down on adulterated hand sanitizers.

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.

South Korean firm teams with Speragen to develop enzyme-replacement therapy for the genetic disorder and with Mirum for maralixibat. Plus deals involving Takeda/PeptiDream, Hanmi/LegoChem, Sun/Cassiopea, LegoChem/Cellectar, ChubLab/CJ CheilJedang Corp., Alebund/Chugai, Kintor/Fosun, Astellas/ExCellThera and I-Mab/neoX/Immorna.