Chongkundang Establishes New Drug Development Specialist 'Archela'

Introduction of NRDO Model: From Pipeline Discovery to Commercialization
Focusing on CETP Inhibitors, GLP-1 Agonists, and More

Chongkundang announced on the 22nd that it has established a new subsidiary specializing in new drug development, Archela Inc, and held its founding ceremony.

On the 20th, at the founding ceremony of Acela held at Chongkundang headquarters in Chungjeongno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Juhee Lee, CEO of Acela, is delivering a greeting. Photo by Chongkundang

The company name "Archela" combines the ancient Greek word "Arche," meaning beginning, origin, or principle, with the suffix "-la," symbolizing life, harmony, and expansion. It embodies the meaning of "life blossoming from the origin" and "harmonious growth expanding from the foundation." This reflects Chongkundang's mission as a pharmaceutical company to contribute to a healthy life for everyone-from individuals to all of humanity, from prevention to treatment-by innovating pharmaceutical technology, as well as its ambition to become a global new drug development company.

Archela is a specialized company operating in the NRDO (No Research Development Only) model, which focuses solely on development. Instead of discovering new drug candidates through its own research, it adopts a bio-business model that introduces promising compounds from external sources and concentrates exclusively on development activities such as clinical trials.

Archela plans to secure an innovative pipeline that will serve as a future growth engine through a strategy of selection and concentration. Initially, the company will focus its core capabilities on three pipelines: the CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) inhibitor "CKD-508," the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist "CKD-514," and the HDAC6 (histone deacetylase 6) inhibitor "CKD-513."

CKD-508 is a CETP inhibitor developed as a treatment for dyslipidemia. Its efficacy and safety were confirmed in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United Kingdom involving healthy adults, and last year, it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United States. CKD-514 is an orally administered GLP-1 agonist expected to offer an innovative treatment option in the fields of obesity and diabetes. CKD-513 is an HDAC6 inhibitor capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is a candidate with potential as a treatment for intractable neurological diseases.

Juhee Lee, who previously worked at the Chongkundang Research Institute, has been appointed as CEO of Archela. After earning her doctorate at Seoul National University, she completed her postdoctoral training at the Samsung Cancer Research Institute of Seoul National University College of Medicine and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, before joining Chongkundang.

Juhee Lee, CEO of Archela, stated, "The founding of Archela marks a new turning point in Chongkundang's new drug development and an opportunity to secure long-term growth engines. By focusing on Chongkundang's core pipelines, we will enhance the efficiency of new drug development and expand our potential for entry into global markets."