Hanmi Science Co., Ltd.

Hanmi Science is a holding company with two core subsidiaries: Hanmi Pharmaceutical, which develops and produces medicines, and Online Pharm, a drug wholesaler. In recent years, the South Korean group has been actively developing new drugs. It has also accelerated overseas expansion, including by setting up a unit in Beijing.

The company's market capitalization puts it in the top tier of South Korean drug companies, alongside Celltrion.

The group was established in 1973 as Hanmi Pharmaceutical. It strengthened its presence in the drug development game in the 2000s. About 20% of sales are reinvested in research and development.

Hanmi has been focusing on clinical trials for diabetes treatments. It expects the diabetes drug market to grow at an average annual pace of over 6% from 2014 to 2023, nearly doubling in size to $42 billion.

The company's operations include original design manufacturing services for major international drugmakers, including France's Sanofi. For this, Hanmi uses a plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. It also runs a facility for antibiotics and biotechnology in Pyeongtaek, in the same province.

Hanmi Fine Chemical, another group company, produces active pharmaceutical ingredients for major drugmakers.

In July 2015, Hanmi announced a partnership with German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim. The duo aims to develop a pharmaceutical candidate, HM61713, into a new molecularly targeted drug for lung cancer treatment. Hanmi is to put the drug through clinical trials in South Korea, China and Hong Kong, as well as handle sales licensing, production and commercialization in those markets.

Under the deal, Hanmi will start by using $50 million in contract money to conduct clinical development. The South Korean company stands to receive a total of $730 million, based on progress with licensing and other tasks.