LifeStyle

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  Two COVID-19 self-testing kits win conditional approval for domestic use SEOUL -- Two homemade diagnostic kits for self-testing secured conditional government approval for domestic use, marking a major shift in the policy of South Korea's anti-epidemic control center which has maintained a conservative attitude in introducing convenient rapid test kits in its fight against COVID-19. The two devices have already been used abroad. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it has approved two antigen self-testing kits devel 2021-04-23
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  5G-based quarantine robot makes commercial debut at university hospital SEOUL -- A 5G-based robot featuring guidance and quarantine functions made its commercial debut at a university hospital by combining a real-time location tracking system and abilities to analyze the density of visitors for social distancing. The robot allows citizens to visit the hospital without any anxiety about COVID-19 infection SK Telecom (SKT) said it has established a quarantine robot solution at Yongin Severance Hospital operated by Yonsei Universi 2021-04-19
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  Huons consortium to produce Russian vaccine Sputnik in S. Korea SEOUL -- A consortium led by Huons Global, a pharmaceutical company based in South Korea, has signed a technology transfer contract to produce Sputnik V, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia's state research center. Pilot production is set to begin in August, and the consortium will build facilities capable of producing more than 100 million doses a month. Huons is the second South Korean company to seal a contract with Russia's sovereign wealt 2021-04-16
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  Namyang apologizes for causing misunderstanding about Bulgaris' anti-virus effect SEOUL -- Namyang Dairy Products, a major dairy food producer in South Korea, apologized for causing public misunderstanding about the anti-virus effect of its fermented milk brand Bulgaris after a government body called for legal action to punish the company for deceiving consumers with "hyped" publicity. Bulgaris contains complex strains such as lactobacillus, acidophilus and bulgaricus, more than regular fermented milk products. The effect of probiot 2021-04-16
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  Bulgaris fermented milk causes debate over anti-virus effect SEOUL -- Bulgaris, a fermented milk brand produced by South Korea's major dairy food producer Namyang Dairy Products, was at the center of talk among stock market investors, scientists and health officials after sponsored researchers claimed to have verified the effect of inhibiting the proliferation of influenza and COVID-19 viruses in laboratory experiments. Bulgaris has maintained its top position in the domestic fermented milk market since Namyang released it i 2021-04-14
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  Donepezil dementia patch awaits state approval for commercialization in S. Korea SEOUL -- Donepezil is a generic medication widely used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is commonly taken by mouth. A Donepezil patch awaits state approval for commercialization in South Korea. Compared to an oral medication taken once a day, the patch featuring improved drug compliance and convenience can be attached twice a week. Celltrion, a leading biotech company in South Korea, signed a domestic joint copyright contract with Icure Pharm 2021-04-13
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  Hanmi's short bowel syndrome drug wins FDA fast track designation SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical's rare drug for the treatment of short bowel syndrome has won "fast track" designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fast track is a process designed to facilitate development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drug maker in South Korea, said it would start second-phase clinical trials abroad soon 2021-04-07
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  EDGC aims to develop community platform based on genomic data SEOUL -- Eone Diagnomics Genome Center, an international joint venture which develops technology for genome analysis, tied up with a cloud-based genomics healthcare web portal to develop a community platform based on genomic data that would allow users to share solutions through communication on the results of genetic analysis. Eone Diagnomics Genome Center (EDGC) and Mygenomebox (MGB) would establish a genetic network service (GNS) and secure competitiveness in 2021-04-07
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  Macrogen wins state approval to go ahead with direct-to-consumer genetic testing SEOUL -- Macrogen, a biotech company and expert in genomic analysis in South Korea, has secured state approval to go ahead with direct-to-consumer genetic testing that provides people access to their genetic information without necessarily involving healthcare providers or health insurance companies. Genetic testing is done through healthcare providers who collect and send DNA samples and share test results with patients. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test 2021-04-06
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  Naver's webtoon gains popularity in Europe with German service SEOUL -- The web cartoon wing of Naver, a top web portal service operator and IT company in South Korea, has launched a paid German service. It is the third European language after Spain and France. With its service in Germany, which is considered the largest cartoon market in Europe, Naver would accelerate efforts to gain a bigger share in the global webtoon market. Web cartoons, widely known as webtoons or webcomics, are digital comic books created to fit into web o 2021-04-01
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  EOFlow's smartphone app for wearable insulin delivery wins medical device approval SEOUL -- A smartphone application for wearable insulin delivery, which was developed by EOFlow, a provider of wearable drug delivery solutions, has obtained medical device approval in South Korea. The app can monitor and control the insulin injection of a tubeless, wearable pump. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved Narsha, which is known to be the world's first app that can control insulin injection from a wearable pump, EOFlow said in a state 2021-03-26
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  Dongkook Pharmaceutical to test Teicoplanin antibiotic as COVID-19 treatment SEOUL -- A South Korean pharmaceutical company will apply for state approval to carry out clinical trials and prove that Teicoplanin is effective in treating COVID-19 patients. Researchers believe the antibiotic used for the treatment of pneumonia can be administered with existing drugs to enhance the effect of treatment. Teicoplanin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, inc 2021-03-18
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  SK Bioscience gets CEPI's additional fund for research into COVID-19 virus variants SEOUL -- To secure COVID-19 vaccines capable of preventing mutant viruses, SK Bioscience will receive an additional research fund of up to $14.2 million from an international foundation that finances vaccine research projects, by utilizing the development platform of its vaccine candidate code-named GBP510 which is at the stage of clinical trials. As a result, SK Bioscience, a partner for South Korea's state project to develop COVID-19 vaccines, can receive a t 2021-03-11
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  Kakao Mobility jumps into pet taxi business thru acquisition of domestic startup SEOUL -- The mobility service wing of South Korea's internet service giant Kakao jumped into a pet taxi business through the acquisition of a domestic startup that has gained popularity since its debut in 2016. South Korea has seen rapid growth in food and service markets for cats and dogs, with pet hotels emerging as a lucrative business. South Korea's first pet taxi startup, Pet Me Up, said in a public notice posted on its website on March 9 that its ser 2021-03-09
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  Scuba diving in Cebu cited as most viewed content in LG Uplus VR platform SEOUL -- A scuba diving series showing sea creatures in the open waters of the Philippine island province of Cebu was chosen as the content watched the most viewed content in 2020 through a virtual reality content application launched by LG Uplus, a mobile carrier in South Korea. More and more people want vicarious satisfaction with virtual reality because traveling abroad is virtually impossible due to COVID-19. Cebu, one of the top tourist destinations in t 2021-03-02
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  State hospital succeeds in inserting wireless pacemakers into hearts of bradyarrhythmia patients SEOUL -- A medical team at Seoul National University Hospital has succeeded in inserting small wireless pacemakers into the hearts of two patients with bradyarrhythmia in the first operation of its kind in South Korea where artificial pacemakers are used for thousands of people every year. The wireless pacemaker eliminates potential medical complications arising from a chest incision and from wires running from a conventional pacemake 2021-02-26
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  Boryung secure exclusive rights to sell nano-particle anticancer drug developed by SN Bioscience SEOUL -- Boryung Pharmaceutical has secured exclusive rights to sell 'SNB-101, a nano-particle anticancer drug developed by SN Bioscience, for 10 years after its release in South Korea. Discussion is also under way to sell the drug in Asian countries. SN-38 is a potent active metabolite of irinotecan with a wide range of anti-tumor effects, but it has extremely low solubility in biological fluids. SN Bioscience, a nano-medicine research and de 2021-02-24
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  Semiconductor-based fast test kit using saliva able to debut in March: science minister SEOUL -- A semiconductor-based fast test kit capable of diagnosing COVID-19 with saliva in three minutes is able to make its commercial debut probably in March, South Korea's science minister said. Health officials have hinted at adopting easy sampling using saliva, although they still stick to a molecular biology technique that amplifies specific DNA samples for accuracy. South Korea is trying to unveil a "completely new concept" of test devices t 2021-02-22
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  U.S. research company Lifex works with S. Korea's Macrogen to develop Parkinson's disease treatment SEOUL -- Lifex Biolabs, an American pharmaceutical research company, will work with Macrogen, a biotech company and expert in genomic analysis in South Korea, to develop Parkinson's disease treatment as part of their strategic partnership. Macrogen said that it would select a biomarker, based on DNA sequencing technology. A biomarker is a measurable indicator of the severity or presence of some disease state. In 2020, Macrogen made a strategic investment in 2021-02-22
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  COVID-19 accelerates virtual experience shopping in fashion industry SEOUL -- Non-face-to-face consumption has become a new daily life due to a COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating the era of virtual experience shopping in South Korea's fashion industry which is striving to ride out a period of hardships by adopting new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. According to the National Statistical Office, online shopping transactions were up 19.1 percent on-year to a record high of 161.1 trillion won ($145 bi 2021-02-19