[Edaily Reporter SHIN MIN JOON ] On the 18th, the domestic pharmaceutical and biotech stock market saw notable gains in the share prices of BL Pharmtech(065170), JLK, Inc.(322510), and Raphas Co., Ltd.(214260). In particular, BL Pharmtech’s stock price soared to the daily upper limit as expectations grew for a global technology transfer of its molecular adhesive-based anticancer drug candidate.

JLK, Inc. boosted investor sentiment by announcing plans to build an AI platform for medical imaging related to Alzheimer’s disease and expand its business in the dementia sector. Analysts attribute the positive impact on Raphas Co., Ltd.’s stock price to news that the company is pursuing autonomous production of AI-based microneedles.

BL Pharmtech Discusses Global Technology Transfer for New Molecular Adhesive Anticancer Drug

BL Pharmtech’s stock price surged 29.97% from the previous day to close at 2,320 won. BL Pharmtech will participate in “BIO USA 2026,” the world’s largest biotech partnering event, to be held at the San Diego Convention Center from the 22nd to the 25th, where it will unveil its next-generation anticancer drug platform and global business expansion strategy.

At this event, BL Pharmtech plans to hold partnering meetings with global companies in the fields of antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and targeted protein degradation (TPD). In particular, BL Pharmtech will engage in wide-ranging discussions centered on its core candidate, ML301, covering global technology transfer, joint research, and potential combinations with new modalities.

ML301 is a molecular glue-based anticancer candidate currently in development for refractory solid tumors that rely on the alternative telomere lengthening (ALT) mechanism. ALT-positive tumors are considered a prime area of unmet medical need that is difficult to address with existing treatments. BL Pharmtech has set the goal of achieving anticancer effects that differentiate ML301 from existing small-molecule inhibitors or protein degradation (PROTAC) approaches by selectively degrading proteins essential for cancer cell survival.

According to BL Pharmtech, ML301 has demonstrated anticancer activity and the potential to inhibit tumor growth in cell-based studies using telomere-extending positive cancer cells and in animal model evaluations. In particular, the molecular adhesive approach is competitive because it features a lower molecular weight and catalytic properties compared to conventional drug development methods. Based on this, the approach is expected to offer advantages such as the potential for developing orally administrable new drugs, sustained removal of target proteins, and a reduced likelihood of resistance development.

At BIO USA 2026, BL Pharmtech plans to highlight not only the drug candidate potential of ML301 itself but also the scalability of its platform.
Key expansion strategies include ML303—a strategy for developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and degrading antibody conjugates (DACs) by leveraging the degradable payload characteristics of ML301—and ML304, a strategy to expand into the central nervous system (CNS) disease sector by combining this technology with blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle antibody technology. ML303 is being evaluated as a next-generation smart payload technology designed to address the resistance and toxicity issues associated with existing ADC therapies.

Park Young-chul, Chairman of BL Pharmtech, stated, “BL Pharmtech has scheduled meetings with numerous global companies at Bio USA,” adding, “Starting with a clear biomarker-based indication—ALT-positive cancer—we will actively seek joint research opportunities that can integrate various technologies, including ADCs, DACs, and BBB shuttle antibodies.”

JLK,

Inc

. Establishes AI Platform

for

Alzheimer’s Disease Medical Imaging... Expands Dementia Business JLK,

Inc.’s stock price rose 5.60% from the previous day to 5,660 won. JLK, Inc. is establishing TRACEGENT, an

AI platform for medical imaging

related to

Alzheimer’s disease

, and is moving

to expand its business

in

the dementia

sector.

Alzheimer’s disease is a leading degenerative brain disorder that accounts for approximately 60–70% of global dementia cases. With the recent successive launches of treatments targeting amyloid beta—the substance responsible for Alzheimer’s—the importance of medical imaging in patient screening and treatment processes is growing.

In particular, as the need for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based monitoring before and after treatment grows, so does the demand for tools that support medical professionals using image analysis technology. In response to these market changes, JLK, Inc. has developed TRACEGENT, an AI platform for Alzheimer’s medical imaging that integrates analysis technologies based on MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

TraceGent was developed based on JLK, Inc.’s medical imaging analysis capabilities accumulated in the field of stroke AI, enabling the comprehensive utilization of Alzheimer’s-related imaging information. TraceGent is structured as a platform that links MRI-based and PET-based analysis technologies to efficiently manage and analyze various medical imaging data. JLK, Inc. plans to begin full-scale sales of TraceGent after completing domestic and international regulatory approval procedures.

Starting with Alzheimer’s disease, JLK, Inc. is expanding its research and development scope to various degenerative brain disorders, including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Through this, JLK, Inc. intends to strengthen its competitiveness in the AI business within the dementia field.

A JLK, Inc. official stated, “As the market for new Alzheimer’s drugs expands, the importance of utilizing medical imaging data is growing,” adding, “Based on JLK, Inc.’s medical imaging AI technology, we plan to strengthen our R&D capabilities in the dementia field and continuously enhance our related platforms.”

Raphas Co., Ltd. Pursues AI-Based Autonomous Production of Microneedles Raphas Co.,

Ltd.’s stock price closed at 8,150 won today, up 1.88% from the previous day. This marks the second consecutive day of gains for Raphas Co., Ltd.’s stock. Raphas Co., Ltd. is pursuing AI-based

autonomous production

of microneedles. The company was recently selected to participate in the “Autonomous Factory Construction” project under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Smart Manufacturing Innovation Support Program and has signed a cooperation agreement.

An autonomous factory refers to a project to advance smart factories by utilizing digital technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analysis, and digital twins—to automate production processes and enhance operational efficiency. The total project budget for this initiative amounts to 1.2 billion won. Raphas Co., Ltd. plans to establish an AI- and digital twin-based autonomous microneedle manufacturing system at its Cheonan plant.

The key tasks to be undertaken include: △ logistics automation using automated equipment and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs); △ the establishment of an AI-based quality prediction and equipment optimization system; and △ the development of a digital twin platform capable of real-time production monitoring and remote control.

Microneedles are a platform technology in the form of microscopic needles used to deliver drugs to the skin, making consistent quality control and standardization of the manufacturing process critical. Through this project, Raphas Co., Ltd. plans to establish a production data-driven process management system and improve manufacturing efficiency.

Raphas Co., Ltd. intends to minimize worker intervention and strengthen its quality control capabilities by increasing the level of automation. Based on this, Raphas Co., Ltd. plans to expand its production capacity in the fields of specialty pharmaceuticals and vaccines in the future.

A Raphas Co., Ltd. official stated, “The construction of this autonomous factory goes beyond simply reducing production costs; it is a strategic investment aimed at proactively meeting the strict aseptic manufacturing standards required by global pharmaceutical companies through the use of logistics robots and AI.” The official added, “Based on our secured manufacturing competitiveness, we will deliver tangible results in our contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business for vaccines and specialty pharmaceuticals.”