logo
[Bio USA] Lotte heir deepens global biotech outreach at Bio USA

[Bio USA] Lotte heir deepens global biotech outreach at Bio USA

Korea Herald2 days ago

BOSTON -- Shin Yoo-yeol, head of global strategy at Lotte Biologics and the eldest son of Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, was seen engaging with industry players at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston on Monday.
While most of the practical discussions at exhibitor booths were led by Lotte Biologics CEO James Park, who accompanied the younger Shin throughout the event, Shin was seen listening attentively to key business updates, exchanging business cards with booth representatives and showing genuine interest in the conversations.
'This is my second time attending the Bio USA, and I have high expectations for this year," Shin told reporters at the venue. 'I plan to attend several key meetings with global companies throughout the period.'
Shin's booth tour included Korean and international names, such as Dong-A ST, Celltrion, Dr. Reddy's Biologics, Thermo Fisher Scientific and SK Pharmteco, reflecting his broad interest in potential partners and future collaboration.
'While there's a predetermined list of booths to visit, Shin also adds companies he finds interesting on the spot,' said a Lotte Biologics official.
At the Dong-A ST booth, with Shin present, ST Pharm CEO Sung Moo-jae and Lotte Biologics CEO exchanged questions regarding antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development, and discussed the potential for future business cooperation.
Earlier this year in January, Shin made an appearance at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, where other second- and third-generation conglomerate leaders, including Celltrion's Seo Jin-seok and SK Biopharmaceuticals' Chey Yoon-chung also attended.
At the time, Shin's participation followed a visit to CES 2025 in Las Vegas. This time, he is believed to have arrived at Bio USA after participating in the 2025 Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit, held June 10–13 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

[Bio USA] Samsung Biologics doubles down on CDMO leadership after biosimilar spinoff
[Bio USA] Samsung Biologics doubles down on CDMO leadership after biosimilar spinoff

Korea Herald

time11 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

[Bio USA] Samsung Biologics doubles down on CDMO leadership after biosimilar spinoff

CEO John Rim says Bioepis separation unlocks transparency, enhances investor clarity, sharpens strategic focus BOSTON — Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim unveiled an ambitious road map to strengthen the company's position as a global leader in CDMO during a press conference held on the sidelines of this year's Bio USA on Tuesday, emphasizing sharpened focus, expanded capabilities and accelerated global expansion. At the center of the announcement was Samsung Biologics' recent corporate split, which fully separates its CDMO operations from Samsung Bioepis, its former biosimilar arm. Rim described the move as a milestone that allows Samsung Biologics to operate as a 'pure-play CDMO.' 'By becoming a stand-alone CDMO, we can focus entirely on our core mission—delivering best-in-class biomanufacturing and development services while enhancing transparency and trust with our global partners,' said Rim. 'This also enables investors to evaluate each business based on its own strategic value and growth potential.' The strategic restructuring is expected to unlock hidden value within Samsung's portfolio and further elevate shareholder value by making the distinct business models more visible and investable. Highlighting strong sector fundamentals, Rim pointed to rising global demand for biologics manufacturing, driven by expanding indications for blockbuster drugs and the development of new modalities, such as ADCs, AOCs and gene therapies. "Following the corporate split, our overseas clients responded positively, as it eliminated any perceived conflicts of interest," Rim emphasized. "Samsung Biologics will continue to fuel its growth by advancing its three core pillars: Geographic expansion, increased capacity and diversification of modalities." According to market research firm Frost & Sullivan, the global biologics CDMO market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15 percent from $21.8 billion in 2024 to $43.9 billion in 2029. Despite some pharma companies announcing in-house capacity expansions, CMO outsourcing demand continues to rise as pharma remains cautious with internal investments. "Just three years ago, there were industry-wide concerns about potential oversupply in the CDMO market. However, we've since witnessed consistent double-digit growth, and with continued category expansion — particularly in the antibody segment — the outlook for CDMOs appears stronger than ever," Rim explained. Samsung Biologics is doubling down on its global client outreach. The company currently serves 17 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies and has intensified efforts to expand its reach among the top 40. In addition to sales offices in New Jersey and Boston, it opened a Tokyo office earlier this year to improve engagement with Asia-based clients. 'Our global clients trust Samsung for both scale and speed. As we expand geographically and technologically, we are committed to offering localized support with global excellence,' Rim emphasized. As of June 2025, Samsung Biologics has secured five new contracts this year totaling 3.35 trillion won ($2.58 billion), surpassing 60 percent of last year's full-year bookings of 5.4 trillion won. The company's cumulative order value since inception now stands at $18.7 billion. 'Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, our pipeline remains strong, and we maintain our full-year revenue guidance of 20–25 percent growth,' said Rim. 'We expect to see continued momentum as we deepen global partnerships and reinforce our role as a full-service biopharma enabler.' Meanwhile, Samsung Biologics is investing heavily in modality diversification to meet evolving customer needs. It recently launched a dedicated facility for ADCs, supporting full development and GMP production, with capabilities ranging from 2 milliliters to 500 liters. The company plans to introduce a dedicated ADC DP line by Q1 2027, completing an end-to-end solution within its Songdo site in Incheon. 'The more competitors there are, the more positive impact it has on patients, so we fully welcome competition. Of course, when it comes to winning contracts, we believe we possess the best internal competitiveness. We are confident that not only our infrastructure but also the strength of our workforce are our greatest assets.'

BOK chief backs need for won-based stablecoin, warns of FX risks
BOK chief backs need for won-based stablecoin, warns of FX risks

Korea Herald

time13 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

BOK chief backs need for won-based stablecoin, warns of FX risks

Central bank notes price growth slowing, but pandemic-era surges still weigh on consumers Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said Wednesday that he is not opposed to the issuance of a Korean won-pegged stablecoin and, in fact, sees a need for it. When asked whether the issuance of a won-based stablecoin could trigger inflation by increasing the money supply, Rhee clarified his position. 'I do see the need for a won-backed stablecoin. Let me be clear — I am not against it,' he said during a press conference held at the central bank's headquarters. He added that the impact of such a stablecoin on the monetary system would depend on the form of issuance and the type of assets backing it. However, Rhee raised concerns over potential challenges to foreign exchange controls. 'If a won-based stablecoin is issued, it could facilitate the conversion of won-denominated assets into dollar-based stablecoins, which could increase demand for foreign stablecoins and complicate forex management,' he said. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has been pushing to allow non-banking institutions to issue a won-based stablecoin. 'We would need to consider the broader implications for bank profitability and structural changes if payment and settlement functions — traditionally handled by banks — are expanded to the non-banking sector," Rhee said. He added that the central bank would work with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Financial Services Commission to establish appropriate measures as soon as possible. Wednesday's press conference was also held to review the current inflation trend in Korea. In the first five months of 2025, consumer prices rose 2.1 percent — slightly higher than the 1.8 percent increase seen in the last six months of 2024, but still near the central bank's target of 2 percent. 'The pace of growth has stabilized, but prices remain elevated due to the sharp rise that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic,' Rhee said. From 2021 to May 2025, overall consumer prices increased by 15.9 percent. Meanwhile, the cost of living index — which includes a selected subset of essential items — rose 19.1 percent during the same period, outpacing general inflation by 3.2 percentage points and highlighting rising household burdens. The Bank of Korea also commented on the potential inflationary impact of recent US tariff measures. The central bank noted that the tariffs could actually help ease inflationary pressure in Korea, given its heavy reliance on exports to both the US and China. The logic: weaker global demand could lead to lower raw material prices. Additionally, if China redirects its low-cost goods to markets like Korea due to reduced exports to the US, it could create further deflationary pressure. However, the BOK emphasized the uncertainty surrounding these projections. 'Since the implementation and scope of tariffs could vary depending on negotiation outcomes, factors such as won depreciation or partial supply chain disruptions could offset any downward pressure on prices,' the central bank said in a statement.

Peer-Reviewed Study in Nature Scientific Reports Demonstrates Non-Invasive Fat Reduction Using Alma's Energy-Based Technology
Peer-Reviewed Study in Nature Scientific Reports Demonstrates Non-Invasive Fat Reduction Using Alma's Energy-Based Technology

Korea Herald

time13 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Peer-Reviewed Study in Nature Scientific Reports Demonstrates Non-Invasive Fat Reduction Using Alma's Energy-Based Technology

CAESAREA, Israel, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly published, peer-reviewed study in Nature Scientific Reports, part of the prestigious Nature Portfolio, presents compelling clinical evidence on the effectiveness of non-invasive energy-based technology for abdominal fat reduction. The study demonstrated statistically significant decreases in abdominal fat layer thickness in Korean women with abdominal obesity, following a series of ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments using Alma's Accent Prime platform. Conducted at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital by Dr. Yeo Ju Sohn and Dr. Hyejin Chun of the Department of Family Medicine at Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, the research confirmed measurable fat layer reduction through ultrasound imaging and waist circumference assessments. Patients reported high satisfaction and consistently strong tolerance throughout the treatment protocol, with no adverse events observed. This publication comes at a time when abdominal obesity is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, both in South Korea and globally. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity—a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. As obesity rates continue to rise, so does the urgency for safe, effective, and accessible treatment options beyond surgical intervention. "This study highlights the evolving role of non-invasive modalities in body shaping and reinforces their potential significance in the broader context of health and wellness," said Lior Dayan, CEO of Alma. "This new publication strengthens the scientific foundation supporting Alma's technologies and showcases our commitment to advancing innovation that prioritizes patient safety, enhances the treatment experience, and keeps pace with the evolving needs of modern patients." Accent Prime combines proprietary ultrasound and radiofrequency technologies to deliver personalized, non-invasive treatments for body contouring, skin tightening, and facial rejuvenation. The platform is CE marked and approved for the treatment of various different indications, including facial and body contouring, skin tightening, cellulite reduction, and skin rejuvenation. Widely adopted by leading clinics worldwide, Accent Prime offers flexible, combination-based protocols that support tailored treatment strategies across diverse skin types and body areas—without the need for surgery or downtime. These proprietary ultrasound and radiofrequency technologies have also been clinically validated in other products from Alma's Body Contouring series, such as Alma PrimeX. Alma is a global leader in medical aesthetic solutions, with over 25 years of innovation. We empower practitioners to deliver safe, effective, and life-transforming treatments to their patients, utilizing state-of-the-art, clinically proven solutions such as energy-based device lasers, diagnostics, injectables, and advanced skincare. Alma's multiple award-winning products have set a new benchmark in the medical aesthetic industry, both in terms of clinical excellence and groundbreaking innovations.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store