BNT Begins Construction of Bio Research Facility in Osong Advanced Medical Complex

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] BNGT announced on the 11th that it has commenced construction of a bio research facility within the advanced medical complex located in Osong, Chungbuk.

BNGT completed the building permit for a new bio research facility on a 3,000-pyeong site (9,533㎡) within the Osong Advanced Medical Complex and held a groundbreaking ceremony on the same day. This facility, named the ‘BNGT Biotechnology Research Institute Osong Center,’ is scheduled to be completed in the first half of this year.

A company official explained, “Through this facility expansion, we plan to establish a full-scale mass production system for the commercialization of transgenic pig research and equip advanced breeding facilities to prepare for xenotransplantation clinical trials.”

The new research facility to be constructed will be used to produce and study source pigs for xenotransplantation research and bio-medical disease models, which are core business areas of BNGT. The company expects that the production scale will increase approximately threefold compared to the current capacity due to the expansion of efficient pig production and related processing facilities.

The company official added, “Recently, xenotransplantation research and the development of pigs for xenotransplantation have been actively conducted domestically, and the government is also proposing additional support measures. Accordingly, BNGT plans to establish a cooperative system with related institutions and academia centered on the newly established Osong Center, along with active investment in the bio business division.”

According to the company, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to support xenotransplantation research and development to develop xenotransplantation products (tissues and organs) applicable to clinical use starting from the first half of this year. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is also preparing quality control standards and safety guidelines for xenotransplantation products in anticipation of the country’s first xenotransplantation.

He added, “Based on top-tier domestic genetically modified technology for producing transgenic pigs, we intend to not only conduct xenotransplantation research but also embark on full-scale commercialization.”