K-Bio Surpasses 20 Trillion Won, Emerges as Global Powerhouse with Platform Technology

The Significance of K-Bio's Technology Exports Surpassing 20 Trillion Won

K-Bio Surpasses 20 Trillion Won, Emerges as Global Powerhouse with Platform Technology photo 1

In 2025, the Korean pharmaceutical and bio-industry reached a historic turning point. This year, technology exports recorded an all-time high of approximately $14.53 billion (about 20.84 trillion Korean Won). This represents a 162% increase from the previous year, nearly doubling in four years since surpassing 11 trillion Won in 2021. Notably, while the number of technology export deals (17) is half that of 2021 (34), the average contract value per deal significantly exceeds 1 trillion Won. This signifies K-Bio's transition from quantitative growth to qualitative growth. The core of this achievement lies in 'platform technology.' Rznomics signed a contract worth up to 1.9 trillion Won with Eli Lilly for its RNA trans-splicing enzyme editing platform. ABL Bio successfully completed major technology transfers with GSK and Lilly using its Grabody-B platform. Olix is gaining attention for its MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis) treatment, demonstrating that platform technologies applicable to various indications, rather than single pipelines, are receiving strong interest from global big pharma. Platform technology can produce dozens of new drug candidates, not just one, exponentially increasing its technological value. The sustained growth of K-Bio in the future depends on reinvestment in R&D. It is crucial to establish a virtuous cycle where funds secured through technology exports are reinvested into research and development. The government has also stepped up industry promotion, investing 37.1 billion Won in the K-AI New Drug Development Project starting in October 2025. Experts predict an average annual growth rate of 15-20% from 2026, and new drug development capabilities are simultaneously strengthening, as evidenced by SK Biopharm's cenobamate being approved as Korea's 41st domestically developed new drug. K-Bio has now established itself as an indispensable key player in the global pharmaceutical and bio-ecosystem.

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