SK Biopharmaceuticals Licenses Opacalium in 1 Trillion-Won Deal
SK Biopharmaceuticals has strengthened its new epilepsy drug pipeline through an in-licensing (L/I) deal worth 1 trillion won (about $722 million). The strategy is to solidify its cash-generating capabilities by focusing on what it does “best” in the United States market, which is the largest in the
SK Biopharmaceuticals has bolstered its epilepsy drug pipeline by in-licensing a new candidate, Opacalim, from U.S. biotech Biohaven for approximately 1 trillion won or $722 million. This strategic move is aimed at strengthening its cash-generating capabilities in the United States, the world's largest market. President Lee Dong-hoon of SK Biopharmaceuticals revealed at a press conference that the company aims to become a "big biotech" that continuously introduces blockbuster new drugs by discovering promising drug candidates with the earned money.
He emphasized that the new pipeline, Opacalim, will ensure abundant cash flow for the next 14 to 15 years and enable longer-term research and development investments. Furthermore, SK Biopharmaceuticals plans to develop a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for epilepsy, which eliminates the fundamental cause of the disease. The company's decision to acquire Opacalim is based on its unique mechanism involving a potassium channel (Kv7) and the low side effects compared to their existing product, Xcopri, which blocks the sodium current channel (INaP).
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