Dong-A ST Signs AI-Based Drug Development Agreement with Gradient Bioconvergence

Accelerating Early-Stage Drug Development
Through Organoid and Genomic Analysis Collaboration

On August 22, Dong-A ST announced that it had signed a joint research agreement with Gradient Bioconvergence on August 21 at the Dong-A ST Research Complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The agreement covers early-stage new drug development using AI-based organoid and genome analysis.

At the signing ceremony of the AI-based new drug development business agreement between Dong-A ST and Gradient Bioconvergence, Mi-Kyung Kim, Head of Research at Dong-A ST (right), and Jin-Geun Lee, CEO of Gradient Bioconvergence (left), are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Dong-A ST

This agreement was established to combine the technological capabilities and research expertise of both companies in order to overcome the structural challenges of traditional drug development, such as predictive limitations, high costs, and lengthy development periods, and to accelerate the development of treatments for intractable diseases.

Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on: ▲ discovering new targets and developing new drugs through AI-based organoid and genomic big data analysis; ▲ analyzing drug responses in various cancer types and conducting precision medicine-based drug screening using PDOs (Patient-Derived Organoids); and ▲ validating the efficacy of candidate substances for intractable brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies using brain organoids based on hiPSCs (human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells).

Gradient Bioconvergence is a company where over 80% of its employees are researchers, and it possesses an organoid banking system based on approximately 1,000 types of PDOs and genomic information (NGS) data. Leveraging its proprietary AI platform, organoid technology, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, the company specializes in discovering new anti-cancer targets. It also owns key platforms for building organoids derived from iPSCs (induced Pluripotent Stem Cells) and providing drug screening services, establishing itself as a leading company in organoid-based target discovery.

Jin-Geun Lee, CEO of Gradient Bioconvergence, stated, "By combining Gradient Bioconvergence's organoid platform with Dong-A ST's drug development capabilities, we can significantly enhance the precision and efficiency of early-stage drug development. By merging our technologies and resources, we aim to drive new drug development more rapidly and effectively."

Mi-Kyung Kim, Head of Research at Dong-A ST, said, "By integrating the technological capabilities and research expertise of both companies, we will be able to independently discover drug targets and efficiently select candidate substances. We will work closely with Gradient Bioconvergence to generate innovative research results and strengthen our global competitiveness in new drug development."