LifeStyle

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  Singapore's Juniper Biologics secures $600 million licensing deal from Kolon to commercialize cell-mediated gene therapy for degenerative arthritis. SEOUL -- Juniper Biologics, a Singapore-based developer of novel therapies, has secured a $600 million licensing deal from Kolon Life Science, a biosimilar arm of South Korea's Kolon Group, to develop and commercialize TG-C, the world's first cell-mediated gene therapy for degenerative arthritis. The deal covers the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa except for South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Juniper Biologics will be responsible for developing 2022-04-13
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  Cosmax teams up with research institute to commercialize fiber material with cosmetics function SEOUL -- Cosmax, a cosmetics original development manufacturer in South Korea, teamed up with a domestic research institute to commercialize a functional material that adds cosmetics functions to textiles. The first lineup will be bedding and clothing with cosmetic fibers applied with various cosmetics materials. Cosmax is developing bedding made of cosmetic fibers in partnership with the Korea Dyeing and Finishing Technology Institute (DYETEC), which has cosmetic source technolog 2022-04-13
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  SK Bioscience launches development of antiviral nasal spray for COVID-19 prevention SEOUL -- SK Bioscience began developing an innovative technology to prevent viral infections and relieve symptoms through intranasal spray in a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The spray could slow the spread of COVID-19 once authorized as the first line of defense before vaccines or therapeutics are developed. When sprayed into the nose, a small protein creates a protective layer inside the upper respiratory tract and may alleviate symptoms of an establish 2022-04-13
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  Abclon partners with state cancer center to develop CAR-T cell therapy for intractable solid cancer SEOUL -- South Korea's state cancer center will cooperate with Abclon, a domestic antibody-drug company, to develop a CAR-T cell therapy for intractable solid cancers. In CAR-T treatment, immune cells obtained from the patient's blood are genetically manipulated, cultured, and put back into the patient's body. CAR-T cell therapy uses T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are receptor proteins that have been engineered to give immune cells the 2022-04-08
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  State-run hospital treats leukemia patient with self-produced CAR-T treatment SEOUL -- South Korea's top state-run hospital has successfully treated an 18-year-old leukemia patient with self-produced CAR-T treatment in which immune cells obtained from the patient's blood are genetically manipulated, cultured, and put back into the patient's body. It was the first self-produced CAR-T treatment among domestic hospitals. CAR-T cell therapy uses T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are receptor proteins that have been engin 2022-04-05
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  Researchers develop rapid diagnosis technology to detect COVID-19 virus and mutantations SEOUL -- A state research body in South Korea has developed a rapid diagnosis technology that can detect COVID-19 mutant antigens. Researchers have transferred their technology to a private company for the commercialization of universal rapid test kits capable of detecting novel coronaviruses and mutations. As a transmembrane protein, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (mACE2) serves as the main entry point into cells for some coronaviruses. The Korea Research Institute of Chemical T 2022-04-05
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  [INTERVIEW] Babitalk eyes overseas markets after success in domestic market with unique marketing SEOUL -- Babitalk, a mobile application that gives information about plastic surgery in South Korea, eyes overseas expansion especially in Southeast Asia, buoyed by fast domestic growth with unique non-traditional marketing that attracts consumers' attention with advertisements encouraging careful decision-making on plastic surgery. Babitalk is South Korea's No. 1 beauty medical information app that connects users with plastic surgeons and dermatologists and generates profit 2022-04-04
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  KT unveils AI autonomous robots with safe plasma quarantine function SEOUL -- South Korea's largest telecom company KT unveiled two types of autonomous quarantine robots, small and large, to sterilize viruses and purify the air using a plasma method that can safely disinfect hospitals, schools and public facilities at all times even with people staying around. The global outbreak of a novel coronavirus prompted researchers to quickly develop autonomous quarantine robots that can roam about high-risk facilities. There are many kinds of autonomous 2022-03-30
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  State health center signs pre-purchase contract for SK Bioscience's COVID-19 vaccine SEOUL -- South Korea's state health center has signed a pre-purchase contract for 10 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate codenamed GBP510 being developed by SK Bioscience, which aims to supply GBP510 from the second half of 2022 and obtain emergency use approval from the World Health Organization. GBP510 is South Korea's first vaccine candidate to receive state permission for Phase 3 clinical trials and the second in the world to demonstrate its effectiveness in 2022-03-21
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  Arthrex selected as new U.S. partner to sell Hanmi's arthritis treatment hyalrheuma SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drugmaker in South Korea, has selected Arthrex, an American medical device company, as a new partner to sell its arthritis treatment, hyalrheuma, in the United States. Hyalrheuma is a polymer hyaluronic acid injection developed with fermentation technology. It is directly administered to joints. Arthrex is in charge of marketing and sales, while Hanmi supplies finished products. Hanmi said hyalrheuma would be sold under the brand name "Syn 2022-03-07
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  Hanmi partners with domestic company to promote exports of saliva-based rapid antigen kits SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drugmaker in South Korea, has partnered with PHC, a domestic bio company that focuses on in vitro diagnosis and digital healthcare business, to promote exports of COVID-19 self-testing kits, including a rapid antigen kit that use saliva as samples to acquire rapid results. Hanmi is in charge of product planning, sales, marketing, and local licensing for a neutralizing antibody kit using blood samples and two rapid antigen kits based on a naso 2022-03-04
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  KT unveils electric wheekchairs attached with AI and automatic call functions at MWC BARCELONA -- Electric wheelchairs that enhanced user convenience and safety functions with artificial intelligence and internet of things (IoT) technologies were unveiled by South Korea's major telecom company, KT, at MWC, a mobile device exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. They can automatically make emergency calls for help by recognizing collisions and abnormal situations. In collaboration with Hycore, a domestic robot system developer, KT has developed two types of motorized 2022-03-02
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  Researchers use whale genes and protein structures to develop new drug substance for NAFLD SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have used whale genes and protein structures to develop a new drug candidate substance that can treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. Related technology has been transferred to a private company for commercialization. NAFLD is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. Early-stage NAFLD does not usually cause any harm, but it can lead to serious 2022-02-23
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  Samsung's Galaxy S22 components use polyamide resins containing recycled fishing nets SEOUL -- In an effort to help reduce ocean pollution by plastic waste, Samsung Electronics, a leading smartphone maker in the world, has incorporated upcycled polyamide resins into key bracket components of its new Galaxy S22 series and the inner cover of the S Pen. Samsung said it has partnered with Royal DSM, a Dutch company active in the fields of health, nutrition and materials, to gather waste fishing nets along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean. Collected fishing nets were cl 2022-02-16
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  GI Cell sets new record in culturing highly active natural killer cells SEOUL -- GI Cell, a South Korean developer of immune cell therapy products, claimed to have set a new world record in culturing highly active natural killer cells with 200 liters. Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of white blood cell and are seen as a promising tool for use in adoptive immunotherapy because they efficiently attack cancer cells or cells infected with viruses or bacteria. Because NK cells are the most powerful immune cells in the human body and are extremely safe 2022-02-16
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  Researchers develop antibacterial, antiviral additive capable of generating high metal ions SEOUL -- A government-funded research body in South Korea has developed a functional antibacterial and antiviral additive that can be widely applied to display films, functional fibers, home appliance films, window films, car interior and exterior materials, and sanitary products. If it is mixed with resin, the antibacterial effect is semi-permanent. The colorless, transparent additive that generates high metal ions was developed through a formulation process by mixing several met 2022-02-03
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  Researchers present safe and efficient approach for sustainable hemophilia therapy SEOUL -- Hemophilia is an incurable hereditary disease. Although innovative treatments such as gene therapy or bispecific antibody therapy have been introduced, a fundamental treatment has not yet been developed, and hemophilia A and B are among the most prominent targets for gene therapy. South Korean researchers have presented a safe and efficient approach for the sustainable treatment of hemophilia. Unlike conventional hemophilia treatment that directly fills insufficient coagula 2022-01-24
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  Research body sets up venture for beauty products based on maycine extracted from centipede grass SEOUL -- A bio venture with technology and other support from South Korea's government-funded research body was set up to produce beauty products based on maycine extracted from centipede grass, a popular turfgrass for lawns in warm areas. Maysin and derivatives were found to have various biological activities, but research has been carried out limitedly. Maysin is found in the silks and leaves of maize, teosinte and centipede grass. A team led by Chung Byung-yeoup from the 2022-01-17
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  COVID-19 pandemic harms health of men and increases obesity and drinking SEOUL -- A prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the health of men by increasing the prevalence of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and high-risk drinking. Obesity was is more pronounced in men than in women, according to a health survey released by South Korea's state health and anti-epidemic center. In a study to analyze changes in public health behaviors and chronic diseases among those over the age of 19, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (K 2021-12-31
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  Clinical trials of mRNA vaccine candidate to begin in first quarter of 2022 SEOUL -- Clinical trials of a messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by South Korea's government-sponsored consortium will begin in the first quarter of 2022 if approval comes from a state public health body. The consortium aims to develop mRNA vaccines with preventive effects that are more than equal to those commercialized by Pfizer and Moderna. To develop homemade COVID-19 vaccines, South Korea has launched the so-called K-mRNA consortium involving three drug ma 2021-12-24