Among recent highlights, SK Bioscience files for approval of recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine GBP510, Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Chinese subsidiary continues to report strong earnings, led by cold drug sales, while Yuhan’s novel peptide drug candidate for degenerative disc disease is set to move into a Phase III trial in the US.

The CNS-focused SK Group affiliate has set out ambitious growth plans for this year and is moving forward with a diversification into oncology and other areas, beginning its first US cancer trials in brain tumors and cancers with brain metastasis.

A Scrip roundup of 2021 earnings for major Korean pharma firms shows top performers included Hanmi Pharma, GC Pharma and SK Group affiliates, which were boosted by new license deals, strong overseas sales and high-margin vaccines and other products.

Heading into the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference, pharmas have been focusing on discovery alliances. J&J’s deals look into novel tissue-targeted drugs, ionic liquid delivery technology and cancer vaccine R&D. Lilly teams with Entos on novel methods for delivering neurology drugs.