"First-in-class, nascent biotechnology holds the future of industry."

Biopharma Tech Concert, a 'hit' with 150 participants.. 23 partnerships in progress.

On the 31st of last month, two new drug candidate technology transfer contracts were concluded. One is an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment candidate (total contract amount of 30 billion won) with an autotaxin inhibition mechanism between Lego Chem Bio and Bridge Bio, and the other is a GABA inhibition mechanism between Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Megabiosup. It was a candidate substance for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (6 billion won). Both have characteristics in common. It is a new target and mechanism, and it is an early candidate substance that has not entered preclinical trials.

The interest of the domestic (pharmaceutical) bio industry is focused on discovering promising early technologies. It is a movement to discover first-in-class early technologies that are being researched by universities, research institutes, or companies, and to transfer technology or start a business. If potential technologies are discovered at an early stage, they can be secured relatively cheaply, and the possibility of success can be increased with the intervention of experts with know-how in clinical development or commercialization from the beginning. The pan-governmental New Drug Development Project Group will also launch the 'Bridge (Discovery of Innovative Candidate Substances)' program this year to directly discover and support novel candidate materials developed by universities or research institutes to help transfer technology.

The ‘1st Biopharma Tech Concert of 2017’ held on the 1st at L Tower in Yangjae-dong, Seoul was a place to confirm the passionate interest in this early promising technology. The event, co-hosted by Biospectator, the only bio-specialized media in Korea, the Institute for Promotion of Research and Commercialization, the Korea Pharmaceutical Bio Association, and the Korea New Drug Development Research Association, was attended by about 150 people from companies, research institutes, universities, and investment companies. filled up Due to the attendees who wanted to listen to promising technologies, there were not many empty seats even after the event ended at 5:00.

The Institute for Promotion of Research and Commercialization presented promising early technologies with potential for commercialization through networks with domestic universities, research institutes, and technology transfer organizations (TLOs).

A first-in-class anticancer drug candidate that directly inhibits c-Myc, a protein that plays a role in the 'final switch' in the signal transduction process related to division and proliferation of cancer cells (Dr. Jeong Kyung-chae, National Cancer Center), 'Piperazine- World's first mechanism-based autism treatment candidate using 1-carboxamidine (PZC) (Professor Shin Chan-young, Konkuk University), candidate for glaucoma, retinal degeneration, macular degeneration using 'anti-Angiopoietin 2' antibody that replaces Avastin and Lucentis Substances (Professor Kyu-Young Ko, Institute for Basic Science), screening methods that can overcome Alzheimer's treatment targeting BACE1, which big pharmas have failed in succession, and treatment candidates (Professor Dong-Kyu Cho, Sungkyunkwan University) were introduced.

A total of 23 cases of partnering between researchers and companies were also conducted. An official from a company that conducted partnering said, "I think the technology introduced today has sufficient commercialization potential."

On this day, there were many attendees who were willing to transfer technology as well as those who wanted to grasp the trend of early promising technologies. An official from a mid-sized pharmaceutical company said, "There is still a conservative aspect to technology transfer, but on the other hand, there is a movement to bring in early technology to find a new breakthrough." "he said.

A VC also added, "Although bioinvestment has slowed down for a while, interest in early promising technologies is still hot."

The organizers plan to continue technology marketing along with partnering between researchers and companies. The 2nd Biopharma Tech Concert is scheduled to be held in the second half of this year (scheduled for the fourth quarter).