GC Pharma’s Baritrax Injection wins top prize at Korea New Drug Awards
GC Pharma said Feb. 25 that Baritrax Injection, the world’s first recombinant anthrax vaccine co-developed with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, will receive the grand prize at the 27th Korea New Drug Awards on Feb. 27.
Lee Jae-woo, head of development at GC Pharma, and Kang Ji-eun, product manager for Baritrax Injection, will also be honored for their contributions, receiving commendations from the minister of science and ICT and the president of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, respectively.
The Korea New Drug Awards are hosted by the Korea Drug Development Research Association and supported by the ministries of science and ICT, health and welfare, and trade, industry and energy. The awards were established in 1999 to recognize drug and technology achievements that contribute to the growth of South Korea’s bio and health industries.
Baritrax Injection received marketing approval in April last year as South Korea’s 39th domestically developed new drug and its third domestically developed new-drug vaccine. Unlike conventional methods that use nonpathogenic anthrax bacteria, it produces and purifies only the protective antigen protein — a key component of anthrax toxin — using recombinant technology, a feature the company said significantly improves safety. Clinical trials confirmed strong safety and robust immunogenicity.
GC Pharma said few companies globally supply anthrax vaccines, calling Baritrax Injection a symbolic achievement in localizing production of strategic vaccines. The company said its safety profile is a key differentiator and supports competitiveness for future entry into global markets.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s Centellian24 steps up North America push
Dongkook Pharmaceutical said Feb. 25 it held a “private breakfast” event in New York on Feb. 2 for beauty editors and major influencers to promote its Centellian24 brand.
The event introduced the brand story and key products and offered hands-on experiences with items including Madeca Cream Time Reverse, the PDRN line, the matcha line and the new Madeca Prime Max device. A networking session included a Q&A on the products. The company said social media posts after the event generated more than 3.3 million exposures.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical also participated under the Centellian24 brand in “2026 Cosmoprof Miami,” North America’s largest B2B beauty trade show, held from Feb. 2 to 29. The company said the show drew about 19,000 industry professionals and distributors from 115 countries and about 900 brands. Dongkook Pharmaceutical said it introduced the brand, core skin-care technologies and new product lines and held consultations with about 100 buyers.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical targets global obesity market with painless microneedles
Under the deal, Daewoong Pharmaceutical will take charge of areas requiring investment, including global marketing and commercialization, while Daewoong Therapeutics will pursue its own business using the technology and expand its applications.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical said it is developing an obesity treatment that applies GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide, to a microneedle patch. It is conducting a Phase 1 trial of a “semaglutide patch” and plans to expand indications to include maintenance therapy after weight loss, building a pipeline covering the full course of obesity treatment.
The company said the patch uses a process that does not apply heat to preserve key ingredients and delivers high-dose drugs precisely through about 100 microneedles in a coin-sized area. It said aseptic manufacturing supports stability and a once-weekly application improves convenience.
SK Biopharmaceuticals named a “2026 Great Place to Work” in South Korea
SK Biopharmaceuticals said Feb. 25 it was selected as a “2026 Great Place to Work” in South Korea by the Great Place to Work Institute, earning certification for a fourth straight year.
The company ranked 23rd in the core “100 Best Companies to Work For in South Korea” list. It also received recognition in two additional categories: “Best Workplace for Parents in South Korea” and “Global ESG Human Rights Management Certification,” for a total of three awards.
In an individual category, President Lee Dong-hoon was named “Most Respected CEO in Korea” for a second consecutive year, the company said, citing evaluations of his open communication and trust-based leadership. Since taking office, Lee has held one-on-one meetings with all employees, meetings by organization and monthly town hall meetings to build a flexible workplace culture.
Lee Dong-hoon, president of SK Biopharmaceuticals, said, “We will continue to accelerate our leap into a global big biotech by fostering a culture of growth with our employees, and we will be a company that fulfills its social responsibilities.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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