VX-880 is the first iteration of a cell therapy strategy which Vertex believes can bring curative treatment for Type 1 diabetes, but competition in this field is building.

Bukwang and subsidiary Contera have become the latest to fail to progress a novel Parkinson's therapy to late-stage trials after a Phase II miss, although several other Korean firms remain in the race for the challenging indication, albeit mainly in Phase I-II.

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.

Only one biopharma group is actively trialing a GLP-1 agonist in the condition. It might not be alone for long.