This article was released as Pharm Edaily Premium Content on May 4, 2025, at 9:35 AM.

[Seungkwon kim, Edaily Reporter] Stocks of several Korean biotech and healthcare companies rallied sharply on May 2, amid growing investor interest in firms expected to expand their global partnerships or commercialize new technologies. Shares of Inventage Lab, Tomocube, and Dtncro all posted significant gains, with Curatis, 40%-owned by Inventage Lab, also rising in sympathy.

Inventage Lab Hits Record High on Oral Obesity Drug Optimism

Inventage Lab closed the day at 46,900 won, up 29.92%, hitting its 52-week high on the Korea Exchange. The trading volume soared to around 3.04 million shares, well above its three-month average.

Investor excitement was fueled by expectations for Inventage Lab’s oral obesity drug, which the company claims shows bioavailability dozens of times higher than Novo Nordisk’s product. Its proprietary drug delivery platform allows for fine control of microparticle characteristics such as morphology, size, distribution, and porosity while minimizing structural changes or loss of the active substance.

Inventage Lab stock trend (Source: KG Zeroin)

Inventage Lab’s platform has already been licensed to major domestic players like Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Chong Kun Dang, and Yuhan Corp. The company is also preparing to launch CDMO services for gene therapy drugs using lipid nanoparticles (LNP) through a partnership with EuBiologics.

Revenue has also been growing, with 2024 sales reaching 1.8 billion won, a 171% increase year-over-year.

CEO Joohee Kim stated, “This is the first attempt to introduce a once-weekly oral obesity treatment, compared to current injection-based or daily oral options. While existing oral formulations rely on PEGylation or chemical modifications to overcome digestive degradation, our technology delivers the drug in its original form without breakdown.”

Analysts believe that if commercialization succeeds, oral drugs could eventually capture around 15% of the obesity treatment market currently dominated by injectables. However, they also caution that further clinical progress and out-licensing updates will be key risk factors.

Tomocube Gains on Global Standardization of Next-Gen Imaging

Tomocube surged 19% to 19,420won up about 30% since late March. The company is gaining attention for developing the world’s first second-generation Holotomography (HT) platform.

The technology enables non-invasive 3D imaging of live cells, tissues, and organoids without staining, fixation, or fluorescent markers. With nanometer-scale resolution, the platform is seen as a next-gen alternative to traditional microscopy and is applicable in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and pathological diagnostics.

Tomocube stock trend (Source: KG Zeroin)

Of particular note is Tomocube’s participation in the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s HTAN (Human Tumor Atlas Network) project, where its imaging system is used as a standard. The company is now expanding its facilities to meet anticipated demand.

At the “Yonsei-HTAN-SCL-G1’s Lab-K-BioX Global Summit 6” on May 1, CEO Yongkeun Park said, “Holotomography breaks through the limits of conventional microscopy and has high potential to become a new standard in biomedicine.”

Analysts estimate that Tomocube maintains a five-year technological lead over competitors and expect sales to accelerate after 2026. The company is also expanding into non-bio sectors, including semiconductors, OLEDs, and AR glasses. Non-biotech revenue is projected to reach 20% this year and surpass bio-sector sales within five years.

Dtncro Rises on Strategic Drug Development Alliance

Dtncro shares climbed 13.80% to 5,690 following news of a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SPMed, a leading pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics research group.

The companies aim to integrate services across the full spectrum of drug development, from non-clinical to clinical stages. Dtncro, already providing GLP-compliant non-clinical safety testing and clinical trials, is expected to enhance its capabilities through this collaboration.

DtnCRO stock trend (Source: KG Zeroin)

With the recent launch of its PK·PD Center, Dtncro can now specialize in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics research both crucial in early drug development.

The company is also strengthening global clinical trial competitiveness through partnerships with groups like Ames Bioscience. Its positioning as a full-service CRO with cost and time advantages, along with a growing global network, is expected to drive future growth.

김승권 (peace@edaily.co.kr)

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