Specialized Institute for New Drug Development Research Conducts Structural Analysis of Disease-Causing Membrane Proteins
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A ‘Bio New Drug Research Institute’ to promote global new drug development projects has been established in Pohang, Gyeongbuk.
Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the afternoon of the 29th that it will hold a completion ceremony for the Cell Membrane Protein Research Institute, which will lead new drug development, at the Pohang Convergence Technology Industrial Complex.
About 50 people, including Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok, POSTECH President Kim Moo-hwan, and provincial and city council members, will attend the completion ceremony.
The institute is a core bio new drug development research facility established with a total project cost of 45.8 billion KRW (22.9 billion KRW national funding) invested over five years until this year, after being selected in 2019 for the ‘Accelerator-Based New Drug Development Project’ contest hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
255 billion KRW was invested in building the research infrastructure, introducing structural analysis equipment such as Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), and constructing a facility with a total floor area of 6,086㎡ across five floors (one basement, four above ground).
The institute is conducting research and development worth 18.1 billion KRW across five projects to develop antibody drugs and new drug candidates through structural analysis, function, and applied research of membrane proteins related to six major severe diseases: cancer, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, brain disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and rare diseases.
Additionally, to overcome the crisis of regional key industries such as steel and automobiles and diversify them, a future growth engine industry, the ‘Accelerator-Based New Drug Development Project’ worth 255.2 billion KRW has been promoted in line with the completion of the world’s best 4th generation synchrotron accelerator.
To this end, in 2017, a basic plan for accelerator-based new drug development was established, aiming to build ▷Cell Membrane Protein Research Institute ▷Accelerator New Drug Research Institute ▷Business Convergence Center ▷New Drug Research-Centered Hospital ▷Advanced Clinical Trial Center ▷Animal Alternative Testing and Evaluation Center.
Among these, the core project, the construction of the Cell Membrane Protein Research Institute, was prioritized and has now been completed.
By possessing a structural analysis research base for global new drug development, it will secure the world’s best pharmaceutical technology in the unexplored new drug research field.
This lays the groundwork to secure leadership in the 1,500 trillion KRW global new drug market.
Gyeongbuk Province plans to focus on establishing an integrated support system for structure-based new drug and vaccine development companies and fostering the green biologics industry using plants to create an advanced technology-based new drug development cluster.
Through linkage with the northern vaccine industry cluster, various bio-pharmaceutical industry development projects such as joint research and product demonstration for new drug and vaccine development, workforce training, and exchanges will be promoted.
Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongbuk said, “This will raise Korea’s new drug development capabilities to a higher level and contribute to leaping forward as a global new drug powerhouse,” and emphasized, “Gyeongbuk Province will spare no effort in active investment and support for new growth industries such as bio and pharmaceutical industries.”
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