[Desk's view] It should also prepare for "With Corona"

The government has announced that it will shift the COVID-19 quarantine system to a "step-by-step daily recovery" (with COVID-19) centered on the management of the number of critically ill patients or deaths.

 

As the proportion of COVID-19 vaccination completion exceeds 70%, a relaxed quarantine system such as lifting restrictions on operating hours for multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes is expected to be implemented.

 

The pharmaceutical industry is also gradually moving to prepare for "With Corona." Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people working at home seems to be reduced and the number of people working at the company is increasing.

 

Some companies terminate the flexible working system implemented to avoid overlapping working hours of executives and employees as much as possible.

 

In fact, the pharmaceutical industry has changed a lot in the COVID-19 situation that has been going on for more than a year and a half.

 

The drug prescription market has changed significantly.

 

Markets such as antibiotics and Jinhae girders have shrunk significantly as the number of flu and cold patients has plummeted due to strengthened personal hygiene management to prevent COVID-19.

 

As the COVID-19 vaccination expanded, the pain reliever "Tylenol" jumped to the top in general drug sales.

 

The market landscape has also changed as companies that have benefited from COVID-19 have emerged one after another.

 

SK Bioscience's performance jumped sharply due to the consignment production of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Samsung Biologics' performance has soared due to consignment production of COVID-19 antibody treatments, and it is also preparing to produce a Moder or COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Diagnostic kit companies have exceeded 1 trillion won in sales.

 

Pharmaceutical companies' R&D capabilities were also focused on conquering COVID-19.

 

Many pharmaceutical bio companies have rushed to develop COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

 

Celltrion, which was focusing on biosimilars, developed its own COVID-19 treatment "Regkirona." On the other hand, in general, domestic companies' R&D performance has been lower in technology exports than before COVID-19.

 

The spread of COVID-19 has reduced direct exchanges with global companies and focused on non-face-to-face promotion, so they have not been able to actively win technology exports.

 

Even if the government gradually eases the quarantine system, it will not return to its daily life before COVID-19 in a short period of time, but pharmaceutical companies should gradually prepare for "With COVID-19." If R&D capabilities are actively appealed at large domestic and international academic conferences in the future, it is expected that technology exports, which have been stagnant, will also become active.

 

The development of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines also requires strategies.

 

It is necessary to reflect on whether the R&D efforts to conquer COVID-19 were simply a trick to boost stock prices.

 

Many people in the pharmaceutical industry were also hurt by COVID-19.

 

However, we hope that the COVID-19 crisis will serve as an opportunity for our pharmaceutical industry to become more mature.