[Yu Jin-hee, Edaily Reporter] While the domestic stock market has recently remained mixed and struggled to find a clear direction, the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors have carved out an upward trajectory. This rally is backed by clear signs of earnings turnarounds and major growth catalysts. In particular, buying interest has been heavily concentrated on companies with strengthened financial structures, expanding high-performance consumer brands, and those nearing global regulatory approvals.

Psomagen Hits Record Revenue Amid Restored Financial Health

According to KG Zeroin MP DOCTOR on the 1st, genomics analysis specialist Psomagen saw its stock price surge by 18.21% from the previous trading day, closing at 3,310 won and placing it at the top of the biotech sector’s gainers on the KOSDAQ market.

Market analysts attribute this sharp rally to a combination of a structural turnaround from chronic losses and decisive corporate actions to clean up its balance sheet. Psomagen recorded an all-time high consolidated revenue of 59.2 billion won last year, marking a staggering 35.5% growth compared to the previous year (43.7 billion won). Over the same period, its consolidated operating loss was cut by more than half, narrowing from 5.2 billion won to 2.2 billion won. On a separate (non-consolidated) basis, excluding subsidiaries, the company achieved its first-ever annual operating profit since its founding, successfully restoring market confidence.

The primary catalyst for the stock’s momentum was the board’s announcement on April 30 to reduce its capital surplus by $75 million (approx. 116.6 billion won) to completely wipe out its accumulated deficit of $61.33 million (approx. 95.4 billion won). This accounting adjustment eliminates the historical deficit on paper, providing a clean slate to accumulate future earnings entirely as retained earnings. The company clarified that this is a reclassification within equity accounts and does not alter its actual total equity or the number of outstanding shares.

A robust order backlog further supports the stock’s upward trajectory. Psomagen continues to secure Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) projects from major global partners, including U.S. government agencies and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Additionally, its direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing revenue, primarily driven by the Japanese market, more than doubled year-over-year.

Furthermore, the company recently obtained a molecular genetics testing clinical laboratory certification from the New York State Department of Health, granting it access to North America’s largest regional market. With the anticipated tailwinds from the U.S. Biosecure Act—which aims to exclude Chinese competitors—the company is well-positioned to achieve its mid- to long-term revenue milestone of 100 billion won.

“Following our return to profitability on a standalone basis last year, this elimination of the deficit has significantly strengthened our financial soundness,” said Ryan W. Kim (Hong-soo), CEO of Psomagen. “Moving forward, we will consistently build up our retained earnings through robust operational execution.”

GFC Life Science Accelerates B2C Shift and Global Channels

Bio-material specialist GFC Life Science also drew investor attention, closing the day up 12.09% at 5,470 won. The company’s growth engine lies in its successful business model transformation, shifting from a business-to-business (B2B) focus to the high-margin business-to-consumer (B2C) market.

In March, the company officially entered the beauty market by launching “fmk,” a high-performance derma-skincare brand powered by its proprietary bio-ingredient technologies. The brand aggressively targets the trend toward ingredient-conscious consumers with high-potency, high-efficacy products. Its flagship line includes an elasticity kit containing 500,000 ppm of salmon-derived polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and a brightening kit infused with vitamin C and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).

To maximize the freshness and delivery of active ingredients, GFC Life Science introduced a freeze-drying method typically used in professional skin booster treatments. The company also secured a competitive edge by scientifically validating the skin absorption mechanisms of its patented plant-derived exosomes (extracted from camellia, Houttuynia cordata, and lavender). Starting with its official online store, fmk has rapidly expanded its reach by launching on major Gen Z-favorite platforms such as KakaoTalk Store, Ably, and Zigzag. For offline distribution, it has diversified consumer touchpoints by establishing a supply network with “Korea Pharmacy,” a major domestic pharmacy chain.

This aggressive B2C push is translating directly into financial results. GFC Life Science reported first-quarter revenue of 5.04 billion won and an operating profit of 460 million won, representing year-over-year increases of 12.2% and 16.7%, respectively. Net profit surged 59.9% to 480 million won, demonstrating a clear growth trajectory.

Looking ahead, the company plans to diversify its portfolio into a comprehensive skincare brand by adding pore-care and skin-soothing lines. At the same time, it is leveraging compliance with the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) in the U.S. and the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) in Europe to accelerate its global B2C expansion via Amazon and TikTok Shop, which is expected to drive further enterprise value.

“We will aggressively promote our freeze-dried kit line through these new products and lay the groundwork for global market expansion,” a GFC Life Science official stated. “By strengthening both our B2B materials business and B2C brand operations, we will continue to diversify our revenue streams.”

Jetema Eyes Chinese Toxin Approval and Entry into the U.S. Skin Booster Market

Medical aesthetics specialist Jetema joined the double-digit rally, closing up 10.57% at 5,490 won.

Jetema’s strength was driven by the simultaneous achievement of major milestones targeting China and the United States—the world’s largest aesthetic markets. In May, Jetema received approval for the Clinical Study Report (CSR) of its Phase 3 trial for “JTM201,” its botulinum toxin candidate, in China. The study demonstrated non-inferiority in improving glabellar (frown) lines and an identical safety profile compared to the original control group.

Based on these results, Jetema has finalized its roadmap to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) with China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), aiming for an official commercial launch in the second half of 2027. The company has already secured a 10-year supply agreement worth 555 billion won with “Huadong Aesthetics,” a distributor with a strong local network. This secures a minimum guaranteed exclusive revenue of 55 billion won annually upon launch.

At the same time, Jetema’s strategic approach to the U.S. market boosted investor sentiment. Instead of waiting several years for approval of a brand-new filler or toxin, Jetema plans to enter the U.S. skin booster (hydro-injection) market in the third quarter of this year. It will combine its non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) product—which is already approved by U.S. regulators for the treatment of osteoarthritis—with an automated multi-needle injector that has a proven track record of U.S. FDA clearance.

While the U.S. accounts for half of the global aesthetics market, institutional adoption of skin boosters remains virtually nonexistent. Jetema’s first-mover strategy focuses on preempting local medical spa networks and hospital channels using this pre-verified infrastructure, with plans to later integrate its broader product portfolio.

In addition, the company has secured a new growth engine in the ophthalmic treatment sector. Jetema recently announced plans to seek regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) within the year for its presbyopia-correcting eye drops, which recently completed Phase 3 trials in South Korea. The product maintains near-vision improvement for approximately six hours after administration.

“We intend to expand our existing product portfolio from medical aesthetics into the broader healthy aging healthcare sector,” a Jetema official remarked. “We aim to secure an early foothold in the presbyopia treatment market by leveraging our differentiated competitiveness.”