[Market Focus] SK Bioscience Jumps 11% on Hopes for Narrowing Losses

SK Bioscience is showing strong performance in early trading.

As of 9:16 a.m. on November 4, SK Bioscience was trading at 56,600 won, up 11.42% (5,800 won) from the previous day.

The company's third-quarter earnings report confirmed a recovery in profitability, which appears to have boosted investor sentiment. SK Bioscience's consolidated sales for the third quarter reached 150.8 billion won, up 144.6% year-on-year, while its operating loss narrowed to 19.4 billion won, a reduction of 20.2 billion won compared to the same period last year. The turnaround to profitability at its subsidiary, IDT Biologika, which was acquired in October last year, was seen as a key contributor.

Lee Myungsun, a researcher at DB Financial Investment, stated, "With the global Phase 3 clinical trial of the pneumococcal vaccine progressing smoothly and the application for a global Phase 3 clinical trial of the two-dose varicella vaccine, mid- to long-term export growth is expected, so performance should gradually improve." However, he added, "As losses are expected to continue until 2027, we are maintaining a neutral investment opinion."