The 44th Domestically Developed New Drug, “Latika,” Makes Its DebutOn the 8th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved “Latika Eye Drops 5% (Recoplavone Hydrate),” jointly developed by GL Pharm Tech Corp. and Aju Pharmaceuticals, as the 44th domestically developed
new drug. It is the first new dry eye treatment drug developed independently by a domestic pharmaceutical company.
Latika is an eye drop that improves the damaged corneal and conjunctival surfaces of adult patients with dry eye syndrome. Its active ingredient, recoplavone hydrate, promotes mucus secretion on the ocular surface, stabilizing the tear film and aiding in the recovery of damaged tissue. Unlike artificial tears, which directly replenish insufficient tears, Latica is distinguished by its ability to stabilize the tear film itself by increasing mucus secretion. This is because tears can only remain on the eye’s surface for an extended period when the water, oil, and mucus layers are in balance.
Development took approximately nine years. GL Pharm Tech Corp. introduced the candidate compound from Donga ST Pharm Co., Ltd. in 2017, led the clinical development, and completed the marketing authorization process in collaboration with Aju Pharmaceutical. In effect, the company took an externally introduced early-stage candidate compound, developed it over the long term, and transformed it into a new drug ready for commercialization.
With the approval of Latica, the number of domestically developed new drugs launched this year has risen to three. Previously, Curocell Inc.’s CAR-T therapy “Limcato” and DuChemBio Co, LTD’s radiopharmaceutical for prostate cancer diagnosis “Prostavue” were approved as the 42nd and 43rd domestically developed new drugs, respectively.
Of course, product approval does not immediately translate into sales. Follow-up procedures remain, including production and launch preparations, securing distribution channels, and setting drug prices. With the domestic dry eye treatment market estimated at around 500 billion won, the key question is whether Latica can establish itself as a new treatment option in a market that has long been dominated by artificial tears and existing anti-inflammatory treatments.
SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS Labor-Management Conflict Erupts Again Just Two Days After Post-Mediation BeginsThe long-standing
labor-managementconflict at SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS failed to find a breakthrough this week. Although labor and management held their first post-mediation meeting on the 8th at the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission to discuss wages and collective bargaining agreements, they engaged in a dispute over the release of the meeting minutes just two days later.
Post-mediation is a procedure in which the Labor Relations Commission mediates again between labor and management that have failed to reach an agreement even after labor dispute mediation has concluded. It can only proceed if both sides agree to participate. This marked the first time in 109 days—since the tripartite labor-management-government dialogue last May—that SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS’ labor and management had returned to the official negotiating table.
The union and management agreed to proceed with a second round of post-mediation through additional negotiations. They agreed to reexamine from the beginning the 44 clauses in the union’s collective bargaining proposal—including wages and performance bonuses—and the company agreed to provide specific reasons for any demands it found difficult to accept. Accordingly, they planned to hold intensive negotiations on the 10th and 11th, followed by a second post-mediation session on the 15th.
However, conflict flared up again after the union released a summary of the meeting’s contents to employees and the media following the first mediation session. Management claimed that the union had misrepresented some of the remarks made during the actual discussions. Management also stated that it was difficult to continue normal negotiations while the union was pursuing various legal proceedings—including claims of unfair labor practices—against the company and its CEO.
The company ultimately requested that the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission postpone the second post-mediation session scheduled for the 15th. Consequently, the intensive negotiations scheduled for the 10th and 11th were also canceled. The possibility of reaching a settlement on the wage and collective bargaining agreement before Chuseok, as initially discussed, has also become uncertain. It is reported that the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission will meet with both sides on the 14th to discuss the future schedule for post-mediation sessions.
The union countered that sharing the meeting minutes with union members and employees is a standard union activity that has been carried out consistently, and that it did not distort the content. The union stated that it finds it difficult to understand the company’s decision to postpone follow-up negotiations on the grounds of the disclosure of the minutes.
Management and the union at SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS have been engaged in wage and collective bargaining negotiations since late last year but have failed to reach an agreement. Following a partial strike last April, the union staged its first full-scale strike since the company’s founding in May. Since then, it has continued its “law-abiding struggle,” including refusing to work overtime or on holidays.
