Shinpoong Pharm Surges on EU Pyramax Patent; Geninus, Viol Also Rally[K-Bio Pulse]

[이데일리 김새미 기자] In the Korean bio-healthcare sector on the 18th, shares of Shin Poong Pharm., Co. Ltd and its preferred stock surged to the daily upper limit for a second consecutive day, buoyed by news of a European patent for its COVID-19-related drug ‘Pyramax’ and concerns over a resurgence of COVID-19. Geninus and Viol also posted gains of over 10%.

Shinpoong Pharm: Two-Day Surge on European Patent for Pyramax

According to KG Zeroin’s MP Doctor (formerly Market Point), shares of Shinpoong Pharm closed at 16,650 KRW, up 3,840 KRW (29.93%) from the previous day. The company’s preferred stock also hit the upper limit, rising 10,700 KRW (29.93%) to 46,450 KRW.

Top Gainers on the KOSPI Market on the 18th (Source=KG Zeroin MP Doctor)

The surge follows the June 16 announcement that Pyramax, Shinpoong’s anti-malarial drug, had secured a European patent for the prevention or treatment of epidemic RNA virus infections, including COVID-19. The European Patent Office (EPO) granted the patent for the drug’s pharmaceutical composition.

The rally coincides with a regional resurgence of COVID-19 in parts of Asia. Although no significant increase has yet been observed in South Korea, health authorities remain cautious. In the 22nd week of 2025 (May 25?31), the number of COVID-19 inpatients at 221 domestic hospitals remained around 105, maintaining the weekly average of about 100. Viral detection rates, which had been declining since March, began climbing again around the 20th week (May 11?17), stabilizing around 8%.

Last summer, COVID-19 cases in Korea climbed from 456 in late July to 1,441 by mid-August. With case numbers rising in countries like China, Thailand, and Taiwan, experts warn that Korea cannot afford complacency. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recently predicted that domestic cases may increase again in late June.

However, industry insiders urged caution about investor optimism. One pharmaceutical insider commented, “A patent can be granted even at the lab stage and is unrelated to its effectiveness in humans,” adding, “Even global players like Pfizer are facing poor sales of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, and it’s unclear whether there’s sufficient demand for new COVID-19 therapeutics.”

Geninus Gains 18.9% on Korean Big Pharma Contract

Geninus shares closed up 18.94% after a pay-to-read PharmEdaily article fueled investor interest. At 2:15 PM, PharmEdaily published a piece titled: “Geninus Secures Deal With a Major Pharma... Revenue Set to Soar 2.4x.” Trading volume rose sharply, and shares ended the session at 2,700 KRW.

Geninus Stock Trend on the 18th (Source=KG Zeroin MP Doctor)

According to the article, Geninus signed a contract with a leading Korean pharmaceutical firm to provide AI-powered genome analysis services. Industry speculation strongly points to a specific company, widely believed to be a global biosimilar leader.

Sources suggest Geninus’ cutting-edge technology was key to landing the deal, particularly as the pharma partner embarks on an ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) project. Geninus’ proprietary platform is seen as essential for ADC development.

Geninus has developed “Intellimed,” a simulation solution for ADC drug development. It performs single-cell analysis and spatial mapping to understand cellular positioning―crucial for precision medicine including immuno-oncology, ADCs, and bispecific antibodies.

Revenue expectations for Geninus are rising. The initial contract is worth around 500 million KRW, but the full deal may reach several billion KRW. Given Geninus’ 2024 revenue of 6.5 billion KRW, this represents a substantial boost. Additional contracts with a global pharma company and a major domestic player are reportedly imminent.

A Geninus spokesperson stated, “Geninus has been significantly undervalued, so this upward trend could continue. Although we cannot disclose the partner or full contract value, it’s true the deal has been signed.”

Viol Rallies on PEF Tender Offer: “K-Beauty’s Global Appeal Evident”

Viol surged on news that private equity firm VIG Partners had launched a tender offer with the goal of voluntarily delisting the company. Shares closed at 12,380 KRW, up 1,180 KRW (10.54%).

VIG’s SPC, Vienna Investment Company, announced it would buy up to 37,438,265 shares?64.09% of Viol’s outstanding stock?at 12,500 KRW per share by July 7. If successful, VIG would hold 98.84% of Viol.

The plan is to delist Viol and turn it into a fully-owned private subsidiary. However, if less than 12,125,998 shares (20.76%) are tendered, the buyback will be canceled.

This isn’t the first time a medical aesthetic device maker in Korea has gone private via a PEF tender offer. In June 2023, Lutronic Corp. was acquired by Hahn & Company and delisted by October. Similarly, French PEF ArchiMed acquired Jeisys Medical Inc. and pursued delisting in November 2023.

An industry insider noted, “Korea’s aesthetic medical device makers have long been attractive targets due to their high profitability. Viol joining the ranks of delisted firms affirms K-beauty’s global popularity, though retail investors may lament the loss of a promising investment opportunity.”