Plus deals involving Abeona/Beacon, TuHura/Kintara, Crosswalk/Codexis, Lantheus/Life Molecular Imaging as well as tech transfer agreements and small deals involving Pfizer, Sanofi and Ipsen.

After the financing draught suffered by Korean bioventures in 2023, it now seems the VC market is poised for a recovery as investors shift attention again to the healthcare sector, with a spotlight on AI-based solutions and device firms.

In a tough R&D environment, delivery technology-based new drug development activities by Korean firms are poised to remain robust in 2024.

A bumper December of licensing transactions and acquisitions involving biotech companies brought the feelgood factor back to the sector. But while big spending in the run-up to Christmas may not dent pharma’s credit cards, it might crimp its investors’ dividends.