BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Obamacare Premiums Set to Double in 2026 as Subsidy Expiration Looms Amid U.S. Shutdown 
Maersk Vessel Successfully Transits Red Sea After Nearly Two Years Amid Ongoing Security Concerns 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
FDA Says No Black Box Warning Planned for COVID-19 Vaccines Despite Safety Debate 
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Lower Prices for Weight-Loss Drugs Amid U.S. Agreement 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Treasury Wine Estates Shares Plunge on Earnings Warning Amid U.S. and China Weakness 
Robinhood Expands Sports Event Contracts With Player Performance Wagers 
Major Drugmakers Slash U.S. Prices and Sell Directly to Patients Amid Trump’s Push for Affordable Medicines 
Elliott Management Takes $1 Billion Stake in Lululemon, Pushes for Leadership Change 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Eli Lilly’s Inluriyo Gains FDA Approval for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Instacart Stock Drops After FTC Probes AI-Based Price Discrimination Claims 
Blackstone Leads $400 Million Funding Round in Cyera at $9 Billion Valuation 
South Korea's SK Chemicals has partnered with AstraZeneca's Korean affiliate in a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) agreement. SK Chemicals will produce and globally distribute Sidapvia, a new treatment for type 2 diabetes, combining leading active ingredients dapagliflozin and sitagliptin.
Under this agreement, SK Chemicals will be responsible for the manufacturing and global distribution of Sidapvia, a groundbreaking combination of Forxig (dapagliflozin) and sitagliptin. Sidapvia is indicated for adults aged 18 and older with type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by improper insulin function and high blood sugar levels.
SK Chemicals and AstraZeneca have jointly developed this promising diabetes treatment. While SK Chemicals focuses on manufacturing and distribution, AstraZeneca will be the marketing authorization holder (MAH). They will handle country-specific licensing and marketing efforts, and South Korea has already granted licensing for Sidapvia, making it the first country to do so.
Sidapvia combines two active ingredients, Forxiga and sitagliptin, globally recognized as a leading SGLT-2 inhibitor and top-selling DPP-4 inhibitor. These ingredients work through different mechanisms of action to effectively lower blood glucose levels, offering a viable option for managing complications among diabetic patients.
Ahn Jae-hyun, the CEO of SK Chemicals, expressed utmost confidence in the company's pharmaceutical technology and production capabilities. These capabilities have paved the way for the supply of medicines to numerous countries, and Ahn emphasized the company's plans to foster diverse collaboration opportunities.
The collaboration between SK Chemicals and AstraZeneca began in early 2020, with AstraZeneca providing SK Chemicals with active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and funding research for diabetes treatment development. Subsequently, SK Chemicals took over product research and development and conducted domestic clinical trials. With this new agreement as a starting point, SK Chemicals aims to expand the supply of Sidapvia in Korea and the global market.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for SK Chemicals and AstraZeneca, solidifying their commitment to advancing diabetes treatment and improving the lives of millions of patients worldwide.
