SK Biopharm, Lotte Biologics, LG Chem, AriBio and GI Innovation Announce New Deals and Updates

SK Biopharm said Thursday it selected two promising central nervous system startups through an open-innovation program with Seoul BioHub and held a signing ceremony.

The program is designed to strengthen the R&D capabilities of Korean startups by sharing SK Biopharm’s experience across the full cycle of global new-drug development. The company said it is the first concrete outcome of an agreement the two sides signed in November.

The selected companies are Novorex and ThreeBrooks Therapeutics, which are developing treatments for degenerative brain diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, SK Biopharm said.

Over the next year, the startups will receive support from SK Biopharm researchers on proof-of-concept work, clinical-entry strategy and responses to global regulatory requirements, among other steps in drug development.

The partners also plan to open a collaboration center inside Seoul BioHub to deepen day-to-day cooperation and to look for additional startups for potential partnerships.

SK Biopharm said it will expand support so domestic biotech startups can build competitiveness that meets global standards, drawing on experience gained developing the epilepsy drug cenobamate, sold in the U.S. as Xcopri.
 

 
Lotte Biologics said Thursday it held a joint campaign with Incheon’s Yeonsu District Office ahead of Tree-Planting Day on April 5, planting 250 trees and promoting spring wildfire prevention to address the climate crisis and help preserve local ecosystems.

The company said about 400 people participated, including district officials, residents and its employee volunteer group, LB:Heart, as part of its ESG vision to build a “sustainable bio ecosystem.”

Participants planted about 250 cherry trees around a neighborhood park in the Yeonsu Advanced Industrial Cluster. They also promoted wildfire-prevention awareness among residents and carried out a cleanup around the park, the company said.

A Lotte Biologics official said the company will continue environmentally friendly activities to respond to climate change, expand community-focused social contributions and work to foster a healthy industrial ecosystem where talented domestic bio workers can thrive.
 

LG Chem said Thursday it signed an exclusive sales agreement with Japan’s Mochida Pharmaceutical for Dinagest, an endometriosis treatment, covering South Korea and Thailand.

Dinagest is an oral progestin containing dienogest and is widely used as a key drug for hormone-dependent women’s diseases, including endometriosis, the company said.

LG Chem said Dinagest is the only product in Japan’s market for the same ingredient to have shown treatment benefits in clinical trials not only for endometriosis but also for adenomyosis and dysmenorrhea. It currently holds more than 80% market share in Japan, the company said.

Based on the collaboration, LG Chem said it plans to apply next year for domestic sales approval and aims to improve access to treatment for women’s diseases by expanding the drug’s use.

“This introduction of Dinagest is an important starting point for expanding our existing infertility business into a women’s health business,” said Kim Seong-ho, head of LG Chem’s Specialty-Care business division. He said the company will continue to identify and develop products that provide practical help for women’s health management across life stages.
 

 
AriBio said Wednesday it appointed Vice Chairman Seong Su-hyeon as its new co-CEO. The company said CEO Jeong Jae-jun will continue to oversee R&D, global clinical trials and commercialization, and completion of new-drug development and scientific results, while Seong will lead overall management, business strategy and fundraising.

The company is approaching key milestones, including the end of global Phase 3 trials for its oral dementia treatment candidate AR1001 and the release of topline results, AriBio said. The company said the co-leadership structure will help create a more stable and stronger foundation for growth by closely linking research and management.

Seong is a co-founder of AriBio. He served as CEO from 2010 to 2019 and later, as vice chairman, led fundraising and the buildout of research infrastructure, the company said. AriBio said he also led development of the dementia electroceutical “Herzion” based on research data on degenerative brain diseases including AR1001, and played a key role in launching business lines such as the hair-loss solution “Teloact,” functional cosmetics and health supplements.

“I will do my best until the final moment to deliver the world’s first oral dementia treatment,” Seong said.
 

 
GI Innovation said Thursday it will present Phase 1 data for its investigational immuno-oncology drug at an international conference.

The company said Phase 1 data for GI-101A was selected for a rapid oral abstract presentation at ASCO 2026, the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

ASCO is a major forum for sharing the latest clinical data in oncology, where new drugs are assessed based on real patient data. The meeting will be held in Chicago from May 29 to June 3, local time, the company said.

GI Innovation said it plans to present the Phase 1 results for GI-101A.

“The selection of GI-101A for an oral presentation at ASCO reflects recognition of its clinical potential and academic value at a prestigious conference,” CEO Jang Myeong-ho said. He said the presentation will clearly lay out the clinical significance of GI-101A and its strategic value as a combination therapy.