[Bio USA] SK Biopharm Signs MOU with Phoenix Lab for AI-Based New Drug Development

Joint Development of Customized Solutions Based on Cheiron, a Generative AI Specialized in Pharmaceuticals and Medicine

SK Biopharm announced on the 18th that it has signed a strategic business agreement with the AI company Phoenix Lab (PhnyX Lab) to establish an AI-based new drug development system.

The signing ceremony took place on the 17th (local time) at the SK Biopharm exhibition booth at 'BIO USA 2025' in Boston, USA.

On the 17th (local time) at the SK Biopharm exhibition booth at 'BIO USA 2025' held in Boston, USA, Yuchang Ho, Head of Strategy Division at SK Biopharm (left), and Minseok Bae, CEO of Phoenix Lab, are taking a commemorative photo for the AI-based new drug development MOU. Photo by SK Biopharm

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to jointly develop a customized solution that automates tasks such as literature search, data analysis, and document preparation required in the new drug development process, based on Phoenix Lab's generative AI solution 'Cheiron.' In particular, they aim to accelerate 'AI Transformation' in new drug development by focusing on automating tasks such as preparing regulatory documents needed for clinical entry. Through this, SK Biopharm expects to maximize R&D productivity and significantly reduce the time and costs required for development and approval.

'Cheiron' is a solution that enables the automation of the entire process from literature research to report writing by integrating and analyzing both internal and external academic data. In addition, it is characterized by enhanced accuracy and effectiveness tailored to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, utilizing official databases from major regulatory agencies such as the FDA and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as well as the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) classification system.

SK Biopharm has already been actively utilizing AI in the early stages of new drug development, such as analyzing disease-causing genes and proteins and identifying candidate substances, through its own AI platform 'HUBLETM.' With this collaboration, the company plans to expand the scope of AI utilization and develop it into a solution that maximizes productivity across all business operations.

Minseok Bae, CEO of Phoenix Lab, emphasized, "The pharmaceutical and biotech industries are fields where digital transformation is challenging due to complex business structures and strict regulations. This agreement will serve as proof that generative AI solutions can be applied in real-world settings to simultaneously enhance both the efficiency and precision of operations in the pharmaceutical industry."

Lee Donghun, CEO of SK Biopharm, stated, "AI has become a core competency in new drug development, rather than a choice. Through collaboration with Phoenix Lab, we will strengthen AI application throughout the entire new drug development process and enhance our competitiveness in the global market."