Korea Drug Development Fund CEO H. Samuel Muk talks to Scrip how the government agency has evolved to support the Korean biopharma industry’s R&D and business development activities, as well as what key new projects are underway.

Scrip takes a look at the increasingly competitive landscape of Korean antibody-drug conjugate developers, which are now vying to catch up with their global rivals in the hot area.

Polyhexanide, from SIFI, could become the first approved treatment for acanthamoeba keratitis, while aflibercept could become the first biosimilar version of Eylea in the EU.

After record venture capital activity around South Korean biotechs last year, the strong investment interest has persisted so far this year, with an increased number of companies receiving large-scale funding as the promising sector emerges amid the pandemic.