Following positive interim Phase I/II results, expectations are rising for SK Bioscience’s recombinant COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes the first Korea-developed candidate to progress to Phase III. 

The South Korean AI-driven drug discovery venture is vying with global rivals in the space to show concrete validation of its approaches in partnered projects, while eyeing international expansion and new fundraising, its CEO says.

Following a successful offering by Prestige BioPharma in January, investors will keep their focus on another upcoming major listing by the SK Group's specialist vaccines arm SK Bioscience, which is likely to set the tone for the South Korean biopharma IPO market this year.

Public Company Edition: Lixte’s small uplisting was the only biopharma initial public offering in the US during Thanksgiving week, but IPOs are ramping up again. Also, LifeSci launched its second SPAC and in follow-on offerings Reata brought in $281m and Intellia grossed $175m.