LifeStyle

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  State-run hospital treats leukemia patient with self-produced CAR-T treatment SEOUL -- South Korea's top state-run hospital has successfully treated an 18-year-old leukemia patient with self-produced CAR-T treatment in which immune cells obtained from the patient's blood are genetically manipulated, cultured, and put back into the patient's body. It was the first self-produced CAR-T treatment among domestic hospitals. CAR-T cell therapy uses T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are receptor proteins that have been engin 2022-04-05
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  Researchers develop rapid diagnosis technology to detect COVID-19 virus and mutantations SEOUL -- A state research body in South Korea has developed a rapid diagnosis technology that can detect COVID-19 mutant antigens. Researchers have transferred their technology to a private company for the commercialization of universal rapid test kits capable of detecting novel coronaviruses and mutations. As a transmembrane protein, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (mACE2) serves as the main entry point into cells for some coronaviruses. The Korea Research Institute of Chemical T 2022-04-05
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  [INTERVIEW] Babitalk eyes overseas markets after success in domestic market with unique marketing SEOUL -- Babitalk, a mobile application that gives information about plastic surgery in South Korea, eyes overseas expansion especially in Southeast Asia, buoyed by fast domestic growth with unique non-traditional marketing that attracts consumers' attention with advertisements encouraging careful decision-making on plastic surgery. Babitalk is South Korea's No. 1 beauty medical information app that connects users with plastic surgeons and dermatologists and generates profit 2022-04-04
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  KT unveils AI autonomous robots with safe plasma quarantine function SEOUL -- South Korea's largest telecom company KT unveiled two types of autonomous quarantine robots, small and large, to sterilize viruses and purify the air using a plasma method that can safely disinfect hospitals, schools and public facilities at all times even with people staying around. The global outbreak of a novel coronavirus prompted researchers to quickly develop autonomous quarantine robots that can roam about high-risk facilities. There are many kinds of autonomous 2022-03-30
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  State health center signs pre-purchase contract for SK Bioscience's COVID-19 vaccine SEOUL -- South Korea's state health center has signed a pre-purchase contract for 10 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate codenamed GBP510 being developed by SK Bioscience, which aims to supply GBP510 from the second half of 2022 and obtain emergency use approval from the World Health Organization. GBP510 is South Korea's first vaccine candidate to receive state permission for Phase 3 clinical trials and the second in the world to demonstrate its effectiveness in 2022-03-21
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  Arthrex selected as new U.S. partner to sell Hanmi's arthritis treatment hyalrheuma SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drugmaker in South Korea, has selected Arthrex, an American medical device company, as a new partner to sell its arthritis treatment, hyalrheuma, in the United States. Hyalrheuma is a polymer hyaluronic acid injection developed with fermentation technology. It is directly administered to joints. Arthrex is in charge of marketing and sales, while Hanmi supplies finished products. Hanmi said hyalrheuma would be sold under the brand name "Syn 2022-03-07
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  Hanmi partners with domestic company to promote exports of saliva-based rapid antigen kits SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drugmaker in South Korea, has partnered with PHC, a domestic bio company that focuses on in vitro diagnosis and digital healthcare business, to promote exports of COVID-19 self-testing kits, including a rapid antigen kit that use saliva as samples to acquire rapid results. Hanmi is in charge of product planning, sales, marketing, and local licensing for a neutralizing antibody kit using blood samples and two rapid antigen kits based on a naso 2022-03-04
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  KT unveils electric wheekchairs attached with AI and automatic call functions at MWC BARCELONA -- Electric wheelchairs that enhanced user convenience and safety functions with artificial intelligence and internet of things (IoT) technologies were unveiled by South Korea's major telecom company, KT, at MWC, a mobile device exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. They can automatically make emergency calls for help by recognizing collisions and abnormal situations. In collaboration with Hycore, a domestic robot system developer, KT has developed two types of motorized 2022-03-02
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  Researchers use whale genes and protein structures to develop new drug substance for NAFLD SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have used whale genes and protein structures to develop a new drug candidate substance that can treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. Related technology has been transferred to a private company for commercialization. NAFLD is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. Early-stage NAFLD does not usually cause any harm, but it can lead to serious 2022-02-23
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  Samsung's Galaxy S22 components use polyamide resins containing recycled fishing nets SEOUL -- In an effort to help reduce ocean pollution by plastic waste, Samsung Electronics, a leading smartphone maker in the world, has incorporated upcycled polyamide resins into key bracket components of its new Galaxy S22 series and the inner cover of the S Pen. Samsung said it has partnered with Royal DSM, a Dutch company active in the fields of health, nutrition and materials, to gather waste fishing nets along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean. Collected fishing nets were cl 2022-02-16
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  GI Cell sets new record in culturing highly active natural killer cells SEOUL -- GI Cell, a South Korean developer of immune cell therapy products, claimed to have set a new world record in culturing highly active natural killer cells with 200 liters. Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of white blood cell and are seen as a promising tool for use in adoptive immunotherapy because they efficiently attack cancer cells or cells infected with viruses or bacteria. Because NK cells are the most powerful immune cells in the human body and are extremely safe 2022-02-16
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  Researchers develop antibacterial, antiviral additive capable of generating high metal ions SEOUL -- A government-funded research body in South Korea has developed a functional antibacterial and antiviral additive that can be widely applied to display films, functional fibers, home appliance films, window films, car interior and exterior materials, and sanitary products. If it is mixed with resin, the antibacterial effect is semi-permanent. The colorless, transparent additive that generates high metal ions was developed through a formulation process by mixing several met 2022-02-03
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  Researchers present safe and efficient approach for sustainable hemophilia therapy SEOUL -- Hemophilia is an incurable hereditary disease. Although innovative treatments such as gene therapy or bispecific antibody therapy have been introduced, a fundamental treatment has not yet been developed, and hemophilia A and B are among the most prominent targets for gene therapy. South Korean researchers have presented a safe and efficient approach for the sustainable treatment of hemophilia. Unlike conventional hemophilia treatment that directly fills insufficient coagula 2022-01-24
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  Research body sets up venture for beauty products based on maycine extracted from centipede grass SEOUL -- A bio venture with technology and other support from South Korea's government-funded research body was set up to produce beauty products based on maycine extracted from centipede grass, a popular turfgrass for lawns in warm areas. Maysin and derivatives were found to have various biological activities, but research has been carried out limitedly. Maysin is found in the silks and leaves of maize, teosinte and centipede grass. A team led by Chung Byung-yeoup from the 2022-01-17
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  COVID-19 pandemic harms health of men and increases obesity and drinking SEOUL -- A prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the health of men by increasing the prevalence of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and high-risk drinking. Obesity was is more pronounced in men than in women, according to a health survey released by South Korea's state health and anti-epidemic center. In a study to analyze changes in public health behaviors and chronic diseases among those over the age of 19, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (K 2021-12-31
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  Clinical trials of mRNA vaccine candidate to begin in first quarter of 2022 SEOUL -- Clinical trials of a messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by South Korea's government-sponsored consortium will begin in the first quarter of 2022 if approval comes from a state public health body. The consortium aims to develop mRNA vaccines with preventive effects that are more than equal to those commercialized by Pfizer and Moderna. To develop homemade COVID-19 vaccines, South Korea has launched the so-called K-mRNA consortium involving three drug ma 2021-12-24
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  Researchers develop diagnostic technology to detect Omicron variant in 20 minutes SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have developed a diagnostic technology that can detect the Omicron variant in 20 minutes. Researchers were able to acquire results in several days, opening the way for health officials to respond quickly even if a new variant occurs. Diagnostic kits can be easily made because professional equipment is not required. A research team led by Lee Jeong-wook, a professor of chemical engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), sai 2021-12-10
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  GI Innovation works with Medirama for development of cancer drug candidates SEOUL -- South Korea's bio-venture company GI Innovation will cooperate with a domestic clinical development and research organization for the development and commercialization of candidate materials for next-generation immuno-cancer drugs. GI Innovation and Medirama will jointly develop two cases of immune-cancer drugs, including GI Innovations's new dual fusion protein, and share profits after commercialization. "New drug candidates to be jointly developed with M 2021-12-08
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  SK Biopharmaceuticals launches biotech company in China SEOUL -- SK Biopharmaceuticals, affiliated with South Korea's third-largest conglomerate, launched a central nervous system-focused biotech company with investors led by 6 Dimensions Capital, a healthcare investment firm based in Shanghai, to establish a new drug development and commercialization platform in China. SK Biopharmaceuticals said it would receive an upfront payment of $20 million and a milestone payment of $15 million, as well as royalties on net sales, for out-lic 2021-11-11
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  Researchers develop soil conditioner capable of storing water without using chemicals SEOUL -- South Korea's state-run nuclear energy research body has used radiation to develop a soil conditioner capable of absorbing and storing water in the ground for plant growth without using chemicals. Researchers will transfer their technology, which can be applied to hydroponic cultivation and smart farms through upgrades, to a private company for commercialization. A soil conditioner can be used to improve poor soils or to rebuild soils. A wide variety of materials have 2021-10-15