South Korea has rapidly emerged as a critical hub for pharmaceutical innovation, evidenced by a pronounced acceleration in its biotechnology firms securing multibillion-dollar licensing agreements with leading global pharmaceutical giants. Industry data released today highlight an unprecedented level of dealmaking activity in 2025, confirming Korea's rising influence in the pharmaceutical platform technology sector and setting the tone for a new era of cross-border R&D partnerships..

韩国已迅速崛起为制药创新的关键中心，其生物技术公司与全球领先的制药巨头达成数十亿美元许可协议的速度显著加快便是明证。今天发布的行业数据显示，2025年的交易活动达到了前所未有的水平，证实了韩国在制药平台技术领域的影响力日益增强，并为跨境研发合作的新时代奠定了基调。

A major development was the recent technology-transfer agreement signed between ABL Bio and Eli Lilly, valued at up to US$2.56 billion. ABL Bio's proprietary 'GrabBody' bispecific antibody platform, including its advanced GrabBody-B system, enables precision delivery of therapeutics designed to cross the blood-brain barrier via targeting the IGF1R receptor.

最近，ABL生物公司与礼来公司签署了一项技术转让协议，价值高达25.6亿美元。这是个重大进展。ABL生物公司专有的“GrabBody”双特异性抗体平台，包括其先进的GrabBody-B系统，能够通过靶向IGF1R受体实现穿越血脑屏障的精准治疗递送。

This platform has attracted global attention as big pharma players strategically shift toward versatile, high-impact delivery systems that expedite molecule development and market accessibility. Earlier in the year, the same technology drew a separate 4-trillion-won agreement with GlaxoSmithKline, further cementing ABL Bio's reputation as a leader in next-generation antibody engineering..

随着大型制药公司战略性地转向多功能、高影响力的递送系统，以加速分子开发和市场准入，该平台吸引了全球的关注。今年早些时候，同一技术还与葛兰素史克达成了另一项价值4万亿韩元的协议，进一步巩固了ABL Bio作为下一代抗体工程领域领导者的声誉。

The trend is not isolated. Alteogen, another Korean biotechnology company, has demonstrated consistent success in exporting its subcutaneous-injection platform, ALT-B4. This enzymatic technology transforms intravenous-administered drugs into subcutaneous formulations, offering significant improvements in ease of use and patient accessibility—drivers highly valued by global biopharma partners.

这一趋势并非个例。另一家韩国生物技术公司Alteogen在其出口皮下注射平台ALT-B4方面也展示了持续的成功。这种酶技术将静脉注射药物转化为皮下制剂，在使用便利性和患者可及性方面提供了显著改进，而这些正是全球生物制药合作伙伴高度重视的驱动因素。

Major licensing deals include a US$1.3 billion agreement with AstraZeneca’s MedImmune division and a US$300 million contract with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo, solidifying the platform's appeal to multinationals seeking differentiated and scalable bioprocessing solutions..

主要的许可协议包括与阿斯利康旗下的MedImmune部门达成的13亿美元协议，以及与日本第一三共达成的3亿美元合同，这巩固了该平台对寻求差异化和可扩展生物处理解决方案的跨国公司的吸引力。

Similarly, LegoChem Biosciences has deepened its global reach, transferring both its proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology and a pipeline candidate to Japan’s Ono Pharmaceutical, in a deal reportedly valued at 940 billion won. These agreements underscore a broader strategic movement: large pharmaceutical companies are increasingly prioritizing the acquisition of platform technologies—modular tools and frameworks that can be deployed across diverse R&D programs, thereby providing de-risked, high-return innovation potential compared to traditional single-asset drug deals.

同样，LegoChem Biosciences也加深了其全球影响力，将其专有的抗体药物偶联（ADC）技术以及一个研发管线候选产品转让给了日本的小野制药公司，这笔交易据称价值9400亿韩元。这些协议突显了一个更广泛的战略趋势：大型制药公司越来越重视对平台技术的获取——这些模块化工具和框架可以应用于多样化的研发项目，从而相较于传统的单一资产药物交易，提供了降低风险且高回报的创新潜力。

Such platforms enable earlier revenue recognition, reduce R&D burdens, and create deeper integration points for future commercial collaborations..

此类平台能够实现更早的收入确认，减轻研发负担，并为未来的商业合作创造更深层次的整合点。

Korea’s platform technology market is also attracting new entrants. Samsung EpiS Holdings, a historically major player in biosimilars, has announced the launch of its new subsidiary, EpiS NexLab, to develop peptide and biologic-based platform technologies, signaling a strategic pivot toward next-gen molecules and value-added licensing opportunities.

韩国的平台技术市场也吸引了新的进入者。三星EpiS控股公司（Samsung EpiS Holdings），作为生物仿制药领域的历史主要参与者，宣布成立新子公司EpiS NexLab，致力于开发基于肽和生物制品的平台技术，标志着其向新一代分子和高附加值许可机会的战略转型。

However, experts caution that while platform licensing generates substantial upfront and milestone revenues, Korean firms must continue to prioritize the development of full proprietary medicines if they are to achieve true 'big pharma' global status and sustain long-term corporate valuations..

然而，专家警告说，虽然平台授权能带来可观的前期和阶段性收入，但韩国公司要想实现真正的“大型制药”全球地位并维持长期的企业估值，就必须继续优先开发完全自主的药物。

ABL Bio CEO Lee Sang-hoon recently emphasized, at the BIO International Convention in June, the need for Korean firms to pair platform successes with more aggressive investment in novel drug pipelines. While the current wave of lucrative licensing agreements validates Korea’s technical prowess, it also signals an evolving strategy among pharmaceutical executives, investors, and R&D leaders: blending platform licensing with in-house product innovation is emerging as the optimal model for both resilience and growth in an increasingly competitive global biopharma market..

ABL Bio首席执行官李相勋最近在六月的国际生物技术大会（BIO International Convention）上强调，韩国企业需要将平台的成功与对新型药物管线的更积极投资相结合。尽管当前一波利润丰厚的许可协议验证了韩国的技术实力，这也表明制药企业高管、投资者和研发领导者之间的策略正在演变：将平台许可与内部产品创新相结合，正成为在竞争日益激烈的全球生物医药市场中实现韧性与增长的最佳模式。

As the Asian pharmaceutical landscape continues to mature, the significant rise in Korean platform technology deals sets a precedent for other Asia-based enterprises—demonstrating the value of innovation, partnership, and cross-border integration as key drivers of future industry leadership and global competitiveness..

随着亚洲制药行业的不断成熟，韩国平台技术交易的显著增长为其他亚洲企业树立了先例——展示了创新、合作和跨境整合作为未来行业领导地位和全球竞争力的关键驱动力的价值。