Korea’s major pharmaceutical companies spent around 100 billion won each in the first half on new drug R&D, with Yuhan Corp., Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. and Hanmi Pharm all reporting large investments. The spending reflects an effort to secure future growth engines. Mid-sized drugmakers also showed similar patterns, with several devoting around 10 percent of first-half revenue to research.
Participants attend a pharmaceutical and bio convention held in southern Seoul, in this 2025 file photo. Yonhap
Korea's major pharmaceutical companies spent around 100 billion won ($72.13 million) each in the first half for the research and development (R&D) of new drugs, data showed Sunday, in an apparent bid to secure future growth engines.
Yuhan Corp., famous for its anti-inflammatory ointment Antiphlamine, said in a regulatory filing that it invested a total of 122.2 billion won in R&D during the January-June period, up 13.8 percent from the same period last year.
The amount accounts for 10.5 percent of sales generated during the first half of this year, according to its regulatory filing.
