Yoon Seong-tae (left), Chairman of Huons Bio Pharma, and Oh Sang-rok, Director of KIST, are taking a commemorative photo after completing the technology transfer signing ceremony on Nov. 17./Courtesy of KIST

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on the 18th that it held a signing ceremony for technology transfer to develop a peptide therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration in collaboration with Huons Bio Pharma.

Going forward, the two institutions will conduct research together for 14 months to promote the commercialization of a peptide therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration for the elderly. KIST's Natural Product New Drug Business Division is challenging the global development of natural product new drugs based on its new drug development capabilities accumulated over the past 20 years at the Gangneung Natural Products Research Institute. The division aims to discover candidate materials targeting representative intractable diseases of aging, such as cancer and macular degeneration, using advanced bio-convergence technologies.

The developed peptide therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration is one of the key materials identified through close cooperation with innovative institutions in Gangwon Province. It is currently developing an eye drop treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration using synthetic peptides that inhibit TLR signaling, a major cause of chronic inflammatory diseases. In the future, it plans to conduct global clinical trials in collaboration with Huons Bio Pharma.

Seomun-hyung, the lead researcher at KIST, noted, “The KIST Natural Product New Drug Business Division, which was launched in September for mission-oriented research, aims for global new drug development for aging diseases, especially for cancer and ophthalmologic diseases,” and added, “We plan to operate joint research labs with corporations through technology transfer and the BP Plus project, and we expect the rapid commercialization of technology.”

KIST and Huons Bio Pharma held a signing ceremony on the 17th. KIST President Oh Sang-rok stated at the ceremony, “The collaboration between KIST and Huons Bio Pharma will be a representative example of the BP Plus project, which actively supports the commercialization process of corporations that have signed technology transfer contracts,” and added, “I hope that KIST's technology can contribute to the healthy lives of the public through cooperation with Huons Bio Pharma.”

Kim Yeong-mok, representative of Huons Bio Pharma, said, “We will secure a promising pipeline related to the research and development of peptide therapies in the aging era to enhance our competitiveness in the elderly disease market,” and added, “We will closely cooperate with KIST to promote global clinical trials of innovative new drugs for dry age-related macular degeneration and obtain item approval.”