Korea's top pharmaceutical firms spend over $72.13 mil. each in first hald of the year for R&D: data

Korea's leading pharmaceutical firms invested a combined $144.26 million in research and development (R&D) during the first half of the year, data disclosed on Sunday revealed. This significant expenditure, totaling 100 billion won ($72.13 million) per company, reflects their strategic focus on securing future growth through the development of new drugs.

Yuhan Corp., renowned for its anti-inflammatory ointment Antiphlamine, led the pack with an R&D investment of 122.2 billion won during the January-June period. This figure represents a 13.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year and accounts for 10.5 percent of the company's total sales generated in the first half of the year.

Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp., known for its popular pain reliever Penzal, allocated 113.5 billion won for R&D, which is 12.3 percent of its first-half sales. This marked a substantial 36.6 percent increase in their R&D spending compared to the first half of 2025.

Hanmi Pharm Co. also contributed to the R&D spending surge, investing 125.5 billion won or 14.6 percent of its half-year sales in new drug development. The company launched an initiative in 2023 to develop a new pipeline, indicating its commitment to innovation in drug development.