[New Year's Address] SK Biopharm President Lee Donghoon: "A Year of Major Leap Toward Completing Global Leadership"

Three Strategic Pillars:
Achieving Market Leadership,
Activating Future Growth Engines,
and Advancing AI-Driven Innovation

On January 2, Lee Donghoon, President of SK Biopharm, announced the company’s New Year strategy at a kick-off meeting, outlining plans to accelerate global expansion by strengthening market leadership centered on cenobamate (U.S. product name: Xcopri®), and focusing on radiopharmaceuticals (RPT) and AI-driven research innovation.

Lee Donghoon, President of SK Biopharm. SK Biopharm

President Lee stated, “The year 2026, the Year of the Red Horse, is a time when dynamism and momentum are maximized, and it will mark the inaugural year for SK Biopharm to achieve global leadership. This year must be a decisive one in which we propel our flagship product cenobamate to the top of the market, activate future growth engines centered on RPT, and take a significant leap forward through AI-driven innovation.”

Regarding cenobamate, the new epilepsy drug, he described it as “the company’s core asset supporting both its present and future,” and expressed his determination to expand its prescription scope based on accelerated growth and clinical expansion data. He also emphasized the goal of securing absolute leadership at a time when the market is being reshaped by factors such as the expiration of competing drug patents.

He identified RPT as the key modality to drive future growth. President Lee commented, “RPT is a market where a clear global leader has yet to emerge, and securing early leadership will determine the pace of future growth. We will rapidly expand our pipeline, establish global partnerships, and secure a stable supply chain to ensure that our first-mover advantage translates into tangible results.”

The company will also accelerate AI-driven research innovation, which has recently become a key focus. SK Biopharm aims to transform its data- and AI-based research system into a practical competitive advantage by ensuring both speed and accuracy, and to redesign the entire R&D cycle around AI, aspiring to become a ‘pharmaceutical company powered by AI.’

Regarding the company’s global operations strategy, President Lee said, “We have shared the market entry and commercialization experience accumulated through direct sales in the United States with our partners in various countries, and have strengthened regional collaboration models and data-driven decision-making systems.” He added, “Based on this, we will enhance execution across all areas, including supply chain, regulatory response, and commercial operations, and proactively establish internal operational systems to prepare for expansion into new markets, including Asia.”

Finally, President Lee remarked, “Like the red horse of the Year of the Red Horse, we must move forward fearlessly, but true strength lies in not losing our direction and balance. I look forward to embarking on this journey of a great leap toward completing our global leadership together with all employees.”