Apimez Partners with Konkuk University for Industry-Academic Cooperation... Development of Bio New Drug Raw Materials

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] InscoBi is joining hands with Konkuk University to strengthen the development of natural product new drugs and health foods.

InscoBi announced on the 6th that its bio-subsidiary Apimez has signed an industry-academic cooperation agreement with Konkuk University Glocal Campus Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation for the development of natural product new drugs and health food raw materials.

Apimez received approval in 2006 for 'Apitox,' a bee venom-based osteoarthritis pain treatment, as Korea's first natural product new drug. Based on its know-how in developing natural product-based new drugs, it is focusing on securing raw materials.

Through the agreement, Apimez will collaborate with Konkuk University to jointly support government (national) projects in the development of new drugs and natural raw materials for health functional foods.

The main contents of the agreement include ▲ joint development of new natural product pharmaceuticals, health functional foods, and raw materials ▲ conducting field training for graduate and undergraduate students ▲ use of on-campus spaces and facilities for industry-academic cooperation.

Choi Dong-guk, Research Professor at Konkuk University Glocal Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, said, "Apimez, which developed a bee venom-based bio new drug, and Konkuk University researchers will work together to develop new natural product drug substances."

Seol Sang-ho, Director of Apimez Research Institute, said, "Securing natural raw materials that enable relatively fast development of natural product new drugs and commercialization of health functional food products has become important." He added, "We will devote ourselves to developing new drugs and health functional foods based on industry-academic cooperation."