SK Biopharmaceuticals announced on Monday that it has achieved the highest AAA rating in MSCI’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) assessment for the third consecutive year. This marks the first time a South Korean pharmaceutical company has maintained this top rating for three years running, with SK Biopharmaceuticals currently standing as the sole pharmaceutical firm in the country to hold this prestigious AAA rating.
The MSCI ESG assessment is a leading framework that evaluates companies’ abilities to manage key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, benchmarking them against global industry peers.
Recent changes in the evaluation methodology have placed greater emphasis on transparency in corporate ESG activities and tightened criteria for supporting evidence. Against this backdrop, SK Biopharmaceuticals’s three-year streak of top ratings reaffirms its robust ESG management capabilities and high standards of information disclosure.
In this latest assessment, MSCI rated SK Biopharmaceuticals’s key areas, including Corporate Behavior, Human Capital Development, and Product Safety & Quality, at globally competitive levels.
The company’s ethical management systems, including its compliance framework and financial transparency, earned high marks in the Corporate Behavior category. For Human Capital Development, SK Biopharmaceuticals’s employee skill enhancement programs and initiatives fostering a positive work environment were highly commended.
Moreover, SK Biopharmaceuticals received high scores in Product Safety & Quality for its systematic quality management system and globally aligned certification processes, which effectively mitigate product quality and safety risks.
The company’s commitment to strengthening pharmaceutical supply chain quality and safety, exemplified by its membership in the global Rx-360 initiative and expanded GxP training for all employees, significantly contributed to its strong performance in this area.
SK Biopharmaceuticals has established a virtuous cycle where innovative drug development and business growth generate social value, underpinned by systematic ESG management. Its groundbreaking drug, Cenobamate, has expanded treatment options for epilepsy patients worldwide, with global prescriptions surpassing 300,000.
By 2025, SK Biopharmaceuticals projects to create social value worth 498.7 billion KRW (approximately 371 million USD), with 452.4 billion KRW (about 336 million USD) attributed to social impact, including improved quality of life through its products and services.
Looking ahead, SK Biopharmaceuticals aims to further expand its social impact through innovative drug development and global business growth. The company plans to continue delivering results in key ESG areas, including board-led transparent governance, ethical management practices, talent development, and enhanced product quality and safety protocols.
Dong-Hoon Lee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SK Biopharmaceuticals, stated that achieving the MSCI ESG AAA rating for three consecutive years as the first Korean pharmaceutical company, and being the only one in the sector to hold this top rating, is a remarkable achievement. This recognition reflects the ongoing commitment to transparent governance, responsible management, talent development, fostering a positive corporate culture, and maintaining rigorous quality and safety standards.
He added that it will continue to expand our social impact through innovative drug development and business growth, while reinforcing the foundation for sustainable growth through globally aligned ESG management practices.
Meanwhile, SK Biopharmaceuticals is diversifying into new modalities, with a focus on radiopharmaceuticals (RPT) and targeted protein degradation (TPD). The company’s strategic interest in RPT is particularly noteworthy, as it can leverage SK Group’s infrastructure and raw material sourcing capabilities.
