Daily Brief South Korea: Ecopro BM Co Ltd, SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd, BNC Korea and more

In today’s briefing:

Insiders Sell at Ecopro BM
SK Biopharmaceuticals (326030 KS): Xcopri US Sales Doubled in 2022; More Stream Still Left
BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

Insiders Sell at Ecopro BM

It was recently reported that Choi Mun-Ho (CEO of Ecopro BM) sold 2,000 shares of Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) at 254,000 won per share.
It was also recently announced that Eroom T&C, the family company of Lee Dong-Chae, the chairman of Ecopro Group, also sold shares of Ecopro BM.
Recent selling of Ecopro BM shares by CEO Choi Mun-Ho and Ecopro affiliate Eroom T&C are negative signs on the Ecopro BM. Lofty valuations are also negative on Ecopro BM.

For 2022, SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS) recorded Xcopri U.S. revenue of KRW169B, up 116% YoY. This year, the company expects to secure Xcopri sales of ~KRW300B in U.S.
Thus far, Xcopri has been launched in 15 countries in Europe. The company expects to launched Xcopri in eight more countries in Europe this year.
By 2025, SKBP plans to submit sNDA for cenobamate in primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures and pediatric patients, and carisbamate for orphan pediatric epilepsy.

During 2022, BNC Korea (256840 KS) reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.
In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.
With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.

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