[NA Eun-kyung, Edaily Reporter] On Sept. 30, the domestic pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare market showed mixed movements. HansBiomed Corporation climbed for a second straight day on expectations for its skin booster launch. RaMeditech Co., Ltd. also jumped nearly 22 percent after announcing it had applied for approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for its next-generation blood glucose monitoring device. In contrast, Il-Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. reversed course, falling despite releasing positive topline data from its oral obesity drug in development by its subsidiary Unovia.

Il-Dong Pharma Catalyst Fades

On Sept. 29, Il-Dong Pharma disclosed Phase 1 results of ID110521156, an oral small-molecule obesity drug being developed by its subsidiary Unovia, during an investor relations session. The announcement briefly lifted the stock by 26.96 percent that day, but shares fell 12.54 percent the following session, starting lower at the open.

Some industry watchers raised questions over adverse events, noting that 80 percent of participants in the high-dose group experienced bilirubin-related reactions. The company emphasized that no serious adverse events occurred.

An Il-Dong official said, “Liver enzyme levels (ALT, AST) across all dose groups remained within normal range, with no cases raising concern for drug-induced liver injury. The reported Grade 3 elevation in total bilirubin was benign indirect bilirubin, unrelated to hepatotoxicity, and normalized after dosing without additional treatment.”

The company also stressed that the Phase 1 trial was co-designed with a global pharmaceutical partner. “To align with global standards, participants were hospitalized during evaluation, ensuring stricter conditions,” the official added.

The market also responded positively to data showing mild gastrointestinal side effects even without a titration process, with no treatment discontinuations or dropouts. Eli Lilly’s oral obesity drug orforglipron, expected to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval later this year, has faced criticism for severe gastrointestinal side effects when not titrated. Il-Dong Pharma plans to advance ID110521156 into global Phase 2 trials next year.

RaMeditech Jumps on Glucose Monitor

RaMeditech’s stock rose 21.97 percent, the sharpest climb among listed Korean biotech and healthcare firms that day. Shares surged after the company announced it had completed clinical trials for its blood glucose meter HandyRay-Glu and filed for MFDS approval.

HandyRay series (Source: RaMeditech)

The company aims to secure approval by year-end and launch the device in the domestic market in early 2026. HandyRay-Glu is Korea’s first integrated digital healthcare solution, combining a minimally invasive laser lancet, blood glucose meter and a mobile application. The device uses a high-powered laser to make a micro-incision for blood collection, significantly reducing pain and infection risk compared to needle-based methods. It won an Innovation Award in the digital healthcare category at CES 2023.

The Korean diabetes management market is estimated at 1 trillion won, while the global market exceeds 100 trillion won, according to the Korean Diabetes Association. RaMeditech plans to expand step by step into North America, Europe and Asia after its domestic launch.

Preparations for global rollout are underway. As PharmEdaily previously reported, CEO Jong-seok Choi met in July with a senior executive at H-E-B, the sixth-largest supermarket chain in the U.S., to discuss potential supply of the HandyRay series. Choi said, “We are prioritizing contracts in regions where approval can be obtained quickly,” projecting annual revenue of 50 billion won by 2028.

HansBiomed Rises on Skin Booster

HansBiomed shares advanced 16.18 percent, hitting an intraday high of 20,300 won to mark a 52-week peak. Momentum continued from the Sept. 29 domestic launch of its extracellular matrix (ECM)-based skin booster CellREDM, a product that has been fueling optimism across the market.

While leading ECM skin booster player L&C BIO Co., LTD. fell 2.7 percent, investors shifted focus to HansBiomed as a latecomer with a potentially more profitable business model. Unlike L&C Bio’s ReDeux, which is distributed through Humedix, HansBiomed markets CellREDM directly through its subsidiary Mint Medical, capturing higher margins.

Skinbooster CellREDM (Source: HansBiomed)

HansBiomed expects to sell 5,000 units per month from the outset. CEO Keun-young Kim told Edaily in an interview, “Once CellREDM is established after about a year of sales, annual domestic revenue alone should exceed 20 billion won. We are also preparing for entry into China.”

The surge marks a reversal for HansBiomed, which had been weighed down by lawsuits over its Bellagel breast implants. The company faces damages claims of 42.9 billion won from 5,365 plaintiffs after it was found to have used unauthorized materials in the implants. In November last year, a court sentenced founder Ho-chan Hwang and other officials to prison terms and fines in the first trial, with appeals ongoing. Despite the legal woes, HansBiomed is planning to reintroduce Bellagel in the second half of this year.