The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) held the 2025 health industry performance exchange meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 27th and shared health care research and development (R&D) outcomes. The government on this day awarded a total of 78 orders, medals, and commendations across four fields: health care technology promotion, health care technology commercialization, innovative pharmaceutical corporations, and innovative medical devices.
Since the enactment of the Health and Medical Technology Promotion Act in 1995, the government has steadily supported research and development in various fields, including new drug development, medical devices, and technology commercialization, for 30 years.
Second Vice Minister Lee Hyeong-hun said, "Thirty years of health care R&D is the path our industry has walked and a blueprint for the future," adding, "The government will spare no support so that Korea can leap into the global top five in biohealth."
At the event, Cureverse CEO Jo Seong-jin, who succeeded in the global transfer of the Alzheimer's disease treatment candidate "CV-01," received the Order of Civil Merit, Magnolia Medal.
Cureverse signed a technology transfer contract worth about $360 million (about 504.2 billion won) with Italy's Angelini Pharma in Oct. last year. This is considered the largest-ever technology export among startups founded by researchers from government-funded research institutes.
Kim Beop-min, head of the pan-ministerial medical device research and development project group for the full life cycle, received the Prime Minister's Commendation for contributions to creating an innovative medical device ecosystem while overseeing the state-led medical device R&D project.
Seoul National University Hospital professor Chae Jong-hee was recognized for pioneering research on rare diseases and pediatric neurological disorders, and Samsung Medical Center professor Cho Ju-hee was recognized for research on quality of life for cancer survivors and for developing personalized care and return-to-work programs, receiving the President's Commendation and the Prime Minister's Commendation, respectively.
In the innovative pharmaceutical corporations institutional sector, Alteogen received the Minister of Health and Welfare's Commendation. Alteogen was highly rated for developing the recombinant hyaluronidase "ALT-B4," exporting technologies totaling 9.4 trillion won through partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies, and its growth potential based on its own platform.
Alteogen's Executive Director Lee Seon-bae also received the Minister's Commendation as a meritorious contributor to health care technology promotion (excellent development field). Lee served as PM during the development of ALT-B4, leading research and development, and is currently the executive in charge of RA (regulatory affairs), leading the authorization strategy and regulatory responses for the standalone ALT-B4 product "Tergazejoo," thereby laying the groundwork for commercialization.
Drug delivery platform corporations Inventage Lab also received the Minister of Health and Welfare's Commendation (institution) for contributions to health industry promotion and health care technology commercialization. Inventage Lab was recognized for contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of Korea's biohealth industry by developing production technologies for long-acting injectables and mRNA therapeutics.
SK bioscience, as an innovative pharmaceutical company, received the Minister of Health and Welfare's Award in recognition of its contributions to national health security, including vaccine self-sufficiency and strengthened capabilities to respond to infectious diseases.
Long-acting pharmaceutical corporations G2GBIO received the Minister of Health and Welfare's Commendation for contributions to health industry promotion and health care technology commercialization. G2GBIO was recognized for leading global partnerships based on its "InnoLAMP" platform technology.