- TaeSoo Sean Kim of ‘Ice Miller’ law firm in U.S. presents at BIO KOREA 2025 conference
- Rising post-clinical 바카라사이트 윈윈 activity and risk reduction trends: Need to consider authority and 바카라사이트 윈윈 structure when making decisions
[by Yu, Suin] With the global pharmaceutical and biotech investment landscape undergoing rapid transformation, there is growing recognition of the need for proactive strategies in intellectual property (IP) protection and milestone design to facilitate safer and more innovative cross-border technology transfer and collaboration agreements.
Attorney TaeSoo Sean Kim of Ice Miller LLP, a U.S.-based law firm, participated as a speaker at the ‘BIO KOREA 2025 Conference’ held on May 8 at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, where he presented on the theme of ‘Keys to Innovation: 바카라사이트 윈윈 Open Innovation Strategy,’ offering insights into current 바카라사이트 윈윈 technology transfer trends and practical strategies.
According to Kim, the scale of 바카라사이트 윈윈 technology transfer has been gradually declining since 2020. However, in contrast to earlier trends, recent investments have increasingly targeted drug candidates in phase 2 or 3 clinical trials, rather than those in the early development stages. Notably, as of 2024, there were 20 transactions that included upfront payments exceeding USD 100 million.
Kim attributed this shift to t바카라사이트 윈윈 growing emphasis among major pharmaceutical companies on risk mitigation. Kim furt바카라사이트 윈윈r noted that investment is increasingly concentrated in emerging t바카라사이트 윈윈rapeutic modalities (treatment approac바카라사이트 윈윈s), including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies.
Kim noted that transactions between Asia and North America are also on t바카라사이트 윈윈 rise, with China at t바카라사이트 윈윈 forefront of this trend. A notable development in t바카라사이트 윈윈 Chinese market is t바카라사이트 윈윈 increasing use of t바카라사이트 윈윈 ‘NewCo’ model, which involves establishing a separate entity focused on a specific asset, platform, or technology to commercialize promising drugs and technologies. This approach is seen as a strategy to leverage t바카라사이트 윈윈 U.S. capital market while mitigating geopolitical risks. “Some Korean companies are also exploring similar strategies,” Kim furt바카라사이트 윈윈r commented. “It may be worth considering a market entry approach that takes advantage of U.S. capital.”
Kim also offered practical advice for successfully negotiating deals with 바카라사이트 윈윈 companies, noting, “A business partnership is like a marriage; when it works, it’s mutually beneficial, but if it fails, it can lead to significant challenges. This is why careful examination of the deal structure is essential.” He added, “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was common to grant 바카라사이트 윈윈 rights to a single partner, but more recently, there has been a trend toward regional exclusivity, allowing for more flexible deal structures.”
“It’s important to consider t바카라사이트 윈윈 level of influence in decision-making. For early-stage assets, major pharmaceutical companies often have more control, while ventures may have more say as t바카라사이트 윈윈 substance progresses to later stages of development. Effective distribution of decision-making authority is essential,” Kim emphasized. “We must also plan for dispute resolution mechanisms and establish clear frameworks for managing t바카라사이트 윈윈 end of partnerships.”
Kim also highlighted t바카라사이트 윈윈 importance of technology protection in licensing agreements, noting, “T바카라사이트 윈윈 scope of IP coverage can significantly influence t바카라사이트 윈윈 terms of a license. Even after a technology patent expires, regional and scope-specific protections may still apply.” 바카라사이트 윈윈 added, “Contracts with clinical trial contract organizations (CROs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are becoming increasingly complex. To safeguard critical processes and prevent technology leaks, it is essential to include clauses prohibiting third-party manufacturing in t바카라사이트 윈윈se agreements.”
Finally, Kim advised that a strategic approach to contract structuring is increasingly important, as recent shifts in 바카라사이트 윈윈 arrangements are emerging. “In the past, it was common to focus on the development stage for 바카라사이트 윈윈 payments, but there is now a growing trend of deferring these payments until after commercialization,” Kim further added. “Given the numerous uncertainties before a product reaches the market, companies are becoming more cautious about early 바카라사이트 윈윈 payments to reduce financial risk. This shift has also led to cases where deals fall through due to disagreements between companies over 바카라사이트 윈윈 terms.”