Scrip takes a look at South Korea’s out-licensing deal trends for 2021, finding that more big transactions are likely as the year moves towards its close despite a wider global slowing in activity, helped by rising innovative R&D.

Among other Asia deals, Takeda adds to pair of recent gene therapy tie-ups with a CNS-focused cell therapy partnership with Immusoft; earlier it licensed ex-US rights to JCR’s Hunter syndrome drug.

Two SK Group affiliates benefit from COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing activities and US sales of novel drugs, while other factors such as a recovery in prescription sales, new launches and falling milestone payments affected results at other traditional South Korean pharma firms in the second quarter.

After immuno-oncology, mRNA is fast becoming a hot area in China as a flurry of biotechs from I-Mab to Kangtai partner with a little-known developer.