BioMed X teams with J&J on inflammation, drug delivery research. Stem cell firm Calidi inks licensing deals with U. of Chicago, City of Hope and Northwestern. MD Anderson teams with Blueprint and Hummingbird.

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.

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.

South Korea is stepping on the gas to develop its own mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and eventually next generation mRNA platform technology for use in other diseases, to meet its goal of becoming a global vaccine hub.