Deepnoid Stock Chart (Source: KG Zeroin MP Doctor)
◇Deepnoid Hits Daily Limit on First Supply Contract for Generative Medical AI
According to KG Zeroin MP DOCTOR on Aug. 3, Deepnoid closed at KRW 1,599, up KRW 369 (30.00%) from the previous trading day.
The stock rallied after the company announced a supply agreement with Pusan National University Hospital for M4CXR, its generative AI-based chest X-ray preliminary report generation solution. The agreement marks the first commercial deployment of M4CXR since it received medical device approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety at the end of June.
Pusan National University Hospital, a tertiary general hospital with more than 1,000 beds and a key regional medical institution, signed the contract as part of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "Regional Responsible Medical Institution AI Medical System Support Project." Deepnoid plans to use this project as a stepping stone to expand the commercialization of generative medical AI across domestic hospitals.
Founded in 2017, Deepnoid is a first-generation medical AI company focused on AI-assisted medical imaging interpretation. Unlike conventional lesion detection software, M4CXR analyzes chest X-ray images and automatically generates preliminary radiology reports that physicians can reference, a capability expected to improve the efficiency of radiology workflows.
A Deepnoid official said, "Deepnoid has established a solid nationwide sales network and is actively targeting customers ranging from university hospitals to local clinics for solution adoption. Beginning with the Pusan National University Hospital project, we expect to announce several additional contracts in the near future."
Deepnoid CEO Choi Woo-sik said, "Starting with this case, we will deliver clinical value and commercial performance that can be experienced in real-world practice. Going forward, we will expand the application of our generative medical AI solutions to CT and MRI imaging."
Peptron Stock Chart (Source: KG Zeroin MP Doctor)
◇Peptron Jumps 29.97% on Expectations of Joining Lilly's GLP-1 Supply Chain
Peptron closed at KRW 166,100, up KRW 38,300 (29.97%) from the previous session. Investor sentiment was fueled by expectations surrounding Eli Lilly's plan to establish a domestic production supply chain in South Korea for its once-monthly GLP-1 obesity treatment.
Industry sources indicated that IT Chem in Ochang, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, is expected to produce intermediates, while SK Biotek and SK Pharmteco in Sejong are expected to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Against this backdrop, the market speculated that Peptron, which possesses long-acting peptide injectable technology, could become the final piece of the puzzle by manufacturing the finished product.
Earlier in March, Peptron's board approved the opening of a letter of credit (L/C) for the introduction of an automated filling system at its second Osong manufacturing plant. The company stated that the second Osong facility would be built at approximately 2.6 times the originally planned size, leading to market expectations that the cGMP-compliant facility is intended for production of the once-monthly obesity treatment being jointly developed with Lilly. However, Lilly has not officially announced Peptron as its final manufacturing partner.
Regarding the ongoing joint technology evaluation, Peptron stated, "Under the confidentiality obligations stipulated in the agreement, disclosure of the project's progress, evaluation results, and discussion details is restricted. Therefore, it is difficult for us to verify or comment individually on various market speculations or interpretations."
The company also said, "The second Osong plant is being developed as a long-term manufacturing base to commercialize the SmartDepot platform and expand global production capacity. We are increasing our manufacturing capabilities with various business opportunities in mind, including technology licensing for long-acting pharmaceuticals, product supply, and CDMO operations."
L&C Bio Stock Chart (Source: KG Zeroin MP Doctor)
◇L&C Bio Falls 6.45% Following KRW 140.6 Billion Rights Offering Announcement
L&C Bio closed at KRW 48,550, down KRW 3,350 (6.45%) from the previous trading day. The decline followed the company's July 31 disclosure of a shareholder rights offering worth up to KRW 140.6 billion.
According to the filing, L&C Bio will issue 3.7 million new common shares. The planned issue price is KRW 38,000 per share, representing a 26.8% discount to the closing price of KRW 51,900 at the time of the announcement. The record date for shareholder allocation is Sept. 4, while payment is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Of the KRW 140.6 billion to be raised, KRW 105 billion will be invested in constructing a global integrated smart manufacturing facility in Dongtan, Gyeonggi Province. The company plans to establish both a Good Tissue Practice (GTP) system for human tissue graft production and a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system for tissue-based medical devices. This investment is intended to expand production capacity for flagship products such as Re2O and MegaDerm while strengthening supply capabilities for overseas markets including the United States and Europe. The remaining funds will be used for working capital of KRW 20.6 billion and redemption of KRW 15 billion in convertible bonds.
At the same time as the rights offering, the company plans to carry out a 1-for-1 bonus issue and cancel all convertible bonds acquired through call option exercises, equivalent to KRW 15 billion based on acquisition cost, in order to reduce concerns over shareholder dilution and potential overhang. The company also explained that, given the long-term revenue-generating nature of production facilities, utilizing equity capital is more appropriate from a financial stability standpoint than increasing short-term borrowings or issuing additional convertible bonds.
An L&C Bio official said, "This rights offering is an investment aimed at supporting the growth of our ECM platform business while securing a stable manufacturing base and strengthening our ability to respond to global markets. We fully recognize the burden placed on shareholders by the capital increase and will make every effort to ensure that the proceeds lead to expanded production capacity and a stronger foundation for future earnings."
The official added, "The apartment-style factory we currently operate has reached clear efficiency limitations. As our business performance continues to improve, we intend to expand our manufacturing facilities and increase production capacity as quickly as possible."
L&C Bio reported consolidated first-quarter revenue of KRW 30.3 billion, up 71% year over year, while operating profit surged 917% to KRW 6.0 billion.
