[Jiwan Kim, Edaily Reporter] South Korea’s pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors moved in opposite directions on Sept. 23. The life sciences sector rose 0.64%, while the pharmaceutical sector fell 0.45%.

Against this backdrop, Proteina attracted attention as investors focused on the growing value of proprietary experimental data in AI-driven drug discovery. Ingenia Therapeutics was also in the spotlight as Merck & Co. (MSD) advances four global Phase 3 trials of its ophthalmology candidate IGT-427, also known as MK-8748. Dongkook Pharmaceutical, meanwhile, highlighted its strong domestic market share for Uresco, a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and its plans to expand into Latin America.

Proteina: AI Data Edge

Proteina surged as the market increasingly viewed high-quality experimental data as a key competitive advantage in AI-based drug development.

According to KG Zeroin’s MP Doctor, Proteina closed at 47,100 KRW, up 7,150 KRW, or 17.90%, from the previous session.

Daol Investment & Securities stated in a report that competition in AI-driven drug discovery is shifting away from algorithms alone toward the ability to generate and continuously accumulate reliable experimental data.

Global pharmaceutical companies are accelerating partnerships with AI firms. Novo Nordisk recently agreed to work with Anthropic, while Bristol Myers Squibb is expanding its use of Anthropic’s AI platform. MSD is collaborating with Google Cloud, and Roche and Eli Lilly are working with Nvidia on AI-based drug discovery and laboratory automation.

Eli Lilly and Nvidia have also announced plans to invest up to $1 billion in research infrastructure that connects AI analysis directly with laboratory experiments.

Daol explained that the emerging model involves a continuous feedback loop: AI generates hypotheses, experiments test them, and the resulting data are fed back into the model. Under this structure, companies with proprietary laboratories and accumulated experimental data could gain a competitive edge.

Even failed experiments may become valuable assets because they provide information unavailable in public datasets and can help AI systems avoid unproductive research paths.

Proteina was cited as one of the Korean companies that could benefit from this trend. Daol also mentioned Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Voronoi, and Y-Biologics as companies developing AI-related drug discovery capabilities.

Still, the brokerage cautioned that faster candidate discovery does not necessarily translate into higher clinical success rates, as safety and efficacy must ultimately be demonstrated in human trials.

Ingenia: Four Phase 3 Trials

Ingenia Therapeutics drew attention as MSD advances IGT-427, now known as MK-8748, into four large-scale Phase 3 studies.

Ingenia closed at KRW 24,500, up KRW 1,050, or 4.48%.

MSD began two Phase 3 studies in neovascular age-related macular degeneration earlier this year and is also moving forward with two Phase 3 trials in diabetic macular edema.

MK-8748 is a bispecific antibody designed to activate the TIE2 receptor while inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This approach is intended to address both abnormal blood vessel growth and vascular instability.

Ingenia licensed IGT-427 to UK-based EyeBio in 2022 in a deal reportedly worth more than KRW 1 trillion. MSD acquired EyeBio in 2024 and has since taken over global development of the asset.

Interest in MK-8748 has grown as competing programs have been discontinued. Roche discontinued development of RG6351 after Phase 2, while Astellas’ ASP4021 is also believed to have been halted. As a result, MK-8748 is viewed as the only direct TIE2 activator for retinal disease to have reached large-scale Phase 3 development.

Industry estimates suggest that MSD could spend approximately KRW 1 trillion on the four Phase 3 studies, underscoring the strategic importance of the program within its ophthalmology pipeline.

Shinhan Securities analysts Lee Ho-cheol and Lim Jae-hyun valued MK-8748 at approximately KRW 1.16 trillion. They expect Phase 3 studies for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema to be completed around 2028, potentially followed by a U.S. regulatory filing in 2029.

Ingenia is also advancing follow-on assets. The kidney disease candidate IGT-303 is in Phase 1/2a development, and the company plans to pursue a global licensing deal next year. Its trispecific oncology antibody IGT-532 remains in preclinical development.

Dongkook: Uresco Expands

Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s Uresco has captured a 76.3% share of South Korea’s dutasteride-tadalafil combination market, according to June data from UBIST.

The company’s stock closed at KRW 21,550, up KRW 1,050, or 5.12%.

Uresco combines 0.5 mg of dutasteride with 5 mg of tadalafil in a single tablet for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dutasteride reduces prostate volume and slows disease progression, while tadalafil helps relieve urinary symptoms.

A Korean multicenter Phase 3 study published in BJU International showed that the combination provided superior efficacy compared to either monotherapy, with an acceptable safety profile.

Dongkook is also expanding overseas. The company recently signed a licensing and supply agreement with Spain’s Faes Farma covering 13 Latin American markets, including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.

The company stated that Uresco could broaden treatment options for patients requiring long-term management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.