Korea's top pharmaceutical firms spend over 100 billion won each in first half of year for R&D: Data

Korea’s major pharmaceutical companies spent around 100 billion won ($72.2 million) each in the first half of the year on the research and development (R&D) of new drugs in an apparent bid to secure future growth engines, data showed on Sunday.

Yuhan, famous for its anti-inflammatory ointment Antiphlamine, said in a regulatory filing that it invested a total of 122.2 billion won in R&D during the January-to-June period, up 13.8 percent from the same period last year.

The amount accounts for 10.5 percent of sales generated during the first half of this year, according to its regulatory filing.

Chong Kun Dang, known for its household pain reliever Penzal, injected 113.5 billion won, or 12.3 percent of its first half sales, into new drug development.

The amount is up 36.6 percent compared to the first half of 2025, the company’s regulatory filing showed.

Hanmi Pharm also spent 125.5 billion won, or 14.6 percent of its half-year sales, on R&D this year, its regulatory disclosure showed. Hanmi Pharm launched an initiative in 2023 to develop a new pipeline of obesity drugs, according to a company representative.

Other midsize pharmaceutical companies showed a similar trend, spending around 10 percent of their first-half revenue on new drug development.

GC Biopharm spent 85.9 billion won on R&D, and Daewoong Pharma invested 115.7 billion won.

Yonhap