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Media release
Interpark, after E-commerce, Is Now Making a Move in the Biotechnology Sector
NOTICE
2022-06-28

Koo Lee PhD, CEO of Interpark Bio Convergence: 

 

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry Education from Seoul National University

Master's degree in Chemistry from KAIST

PhD in Chemistry from Iowa State University

Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University

Research Fellow at LG Life Sciences

 Head of R&D Innovation Center and Quality Management Center at LG Life Sciences

Head of Drug Discovery Research Institute at Bridge Biotherapeutics

Executive Vice President at Kainos Medicine

CEO of Interpark Bio Convergence (present)

 

 

 

 

 

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Interpark”? Most likely, it would be an e-commerce platform known for selling tickets to events and concerts. With Yanolja recently securing management rights to Interpark's e-commerce division, many are curious about Interpark's future main business model.

 

Its founder, Chairman Ki-hyung Lee, is now exploring new growth opportunities in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors through venture company Interpark Bio Convergence. The protagonist leading Interpark's entrepreneurial spirit is CEO Koo Lee PhD. After taking the helm in March 2021, he broadened the company’s scope from organoids to new drugs, and relocated from the International Vaccine Research Institute near Seoul National University to Moonjeong-dong to expand the research institute’s capabilities.

 

"Organoids are so-called artificial organs. It involves harvesting patient tissues and culturing them to make them capable of performing actual organ functions. A distinguishing factor is that we research cells derived from cancer patients at Severance and Bundang Seoul National University Hospitals. Research on cancer-related organoids is an area that has not advanced significantly worldwide, making it a field worth investing in.”

 

Following organoids, CEO Koo Lee PhD, is focusing on new drug discovery. At present, the company has approximately five pipelines in the research and development stage, with the goal of one new drug candidate for development every year.

 

“Our primary new drug pipeline includes the solid tumor immunotherapy agent ‘IBC-1131’, which was in-licensed from BiSiChem. It’s currently in the late preclinical development phase, with plans for applying for IND in the second half of 2022.”

 

"We particularly focus on lung cancer, which has a large market size. We are receiving strong support from Advisor Dr. Byoung Chul Cho, renowned leader in lung cancer research in Korea and the head of the Lung Cancer Center at Yonsei Cancer Hospital. We have a competitive advantage in this area, as we have been concentrating on the development of small-molecule anticancer drugs. Having already achieved promising results in animal experiments, we are confident that IBC-1131 will be recognized in the global market in the near future. We plan to secure at least three or more clinical Phase 1 and Phase 2 pipelines within five years, while also promoting out-licensing to global pharmaceutical companies."

 

“The project ‘IBC-2121’ is also promising. It targets non-small cell lung cancer with drug resistance. We are currently engaged in preclinical studies in collaboration with Professor Taebo Sim's team at Yonsei University, and we anticipate the discovery of a drug candidate in the near future.”

 

▶Focused on Discovering New Drug Candidates... Striving for Success with Lung Cancer-Targeted Anticancer Agents.

 

The CEO will also be dedicated to PROTAC (PROteolysis Targeting Chimera), a targeted protein degradation technology. Conventional drugs prevent diseases by binding to disease causing proteins. PROTAC completely degrades and removes disease-causing proteins. The research on PROTACs is so active that it is considered a "game changer" in recent drug development.

 

The reason CEO Koo Lee PhD is confident in new drug development can be seen from his research career. He graduated from Seoul National University with a BS degree in Chemistry Education, and received his master's and doctoral degrees in Chemistry from KAIST and Iowa State University, respectively. Initially focusing on organic synthesis, his interest shifted to medicinal chemistry during his postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University. Here, he conducted research under a professor who had invented the lung cancer treatment drug Alimta. He’s also held key positions such as Head of R&D Innovation Center and Quality Management Center at LG Life Sciences, a company recognized for laying the foundation for biotechnology in Korea.

 

"Most medicinal chemists are only involved in research, but I believe my strength lies in having experience in both research and drug development. I have direct and indirect experience in drug design, drug synthesis, efficacy evaluation, toxicity testing, preclinical research, clinical trials, and production."

 

During his time at LG Life Sciences, he led research collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda and Astellas, acquiring advanced research methods. He joined Interpark Bio Convergence in 2021 after working at Bridge Biotherapeutics and Kainos Medicine. CEO Koo Lee PhD stated, "Interpark Bio Convergence has protein structure and drug design experts, giving us a competitive edge in discovering anticancer drug candidates that are more effective with fewer side effects."

 

Interpark Bio Convergence received 10 billion won in funding from its holding company in 2021 and plans to actively attract external investments from 2022. Additionally, it aims to be listed on the KOSDAQ by 2025. CEO Koo Lee PhD remarked, "We are growing with the full support of our holding company," and expressed his ambition to establish Interpark Bio Convergence as a global biotech company with a market capitalization exceeding 1 trillion won within the next five years.

 

 

Source: Maeil Business Newspape (https://www.mk.co.kr/economy/view.php?sc=50000001&year=2022&no=20515)