- Selected as Final Winner Among 40 Applicant Companies and Integrated into Bayer’s Portfolio
- Elisigen’s AAV Gene Therapy Technology Recognized for Global Innovation Potential via Global Pharmaceutical Company
- Co-Development Pipeline NG101 Expected to Accelerate Global Licensing Discussions, Aligned with Superior-to-Expected Clinical Results
Reyon Pharmaceutical announced on the 15th that its long-time co-development partner, Elisigen, won first place in the 'Bayer Co.Lab Connect Seoul' program operated by the global pharmaceutical company Bayer, thereby proving their jointly developed gene therapy technology in the global market.
Overcoming Market Stereotypes: Fruit of Long-Term Research
In the perception of the public and the market, Reyon Pharmaceutical has been recognized as a company centered around chemicals (synthetic drugs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with a long history and tradition. However, Reyon Pharmaceutical is a hidden pioneer who has focused on the potential of gene therapies as a future growth engine and has steadily continued R&D for a long time.
The fruit of this long-term vision is the partnership with Elisigen. The two companies signed a co-development contract in 2020 and have been diligently developing NG101, an ophthalmology gene therapy, together for a long time. As a result, NG101, their oldest co-research pipeline, has preemptively started producing visible results, achieving the feat of securing superior-than-expected clinical results.
Proving Technology Through World-Renowned 'Bayer Co.Lab' Victory
Operated by Bayer, a 160-year-old global life sciences company headquartered in Germany, Bayer Co.Lab is a global life sciences incubator network located in major biotech innovation hubs worldwide, including Berlin (Germany), Cambridge (USA), Kobe/Tokyo (Japan), Shanghai/Beijing (China), Seoul (South Korea), and Basel (Switzerland).
For this 'Bayer Co.Lab Connect Seoul' program, 40 promising domestic biotech companies applied and engaged in fierce competition. Following an in-depth evaluation of R&D, technological prowess, and clinical/regulatory strategies by Bayer headquarters, the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF), and venture capital experts, Elisigen proudly claimed victory among the final 3 candidates.
Through this victory, Elisigen’s AAV gene therapy technology has been evaluated as having its value recognized through a global pharmaceutical company. Elisigen will receive comprehensive support, including:
• Dedicated mentoring by Bayer experts
• Access to Bayer Co.Lab hubs worldwide
• Inclusion in the Bayer Co.Lab portfolio companies
• Introductions to global investors, along with an opportunity to directly introduce its pipeline to Bayer’s headquarters R&D and business development organizations.
Accelerating Global Licensing and Commercialization
Elisigen participated in this program with an ophthalmology gene therapy portfolio consisting of its main pipeline, NG101, and follow-up pipeline, EG103:
- NG101: Earlier this week, at the world's largest ophthalmology conference, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), it proved a 90% reduction in ocular injection frequency for macular degeneration treatment and the potential for distinct visual improvement, drawing intense attention from the global industry.
- EG103: Targeting retinal synapse dysfunction with the goal of substantial visual function preservation, it is a dry age-related macular degeneration treatment designed to sustain long-term effects with a single administration, currently in the preclinical stage.
Jong-Mook Kim, CEO of Elisigen, stated, "We are thrilled to have the excellence of not only our main pipeline NG101 but also our follow-up pipeline recognized by a global pharmaceutical company. We want to quickly introduce a new gene therapy that can treat age-related macular degeneration to the world."
An official from Reyon Pharmaceutical stated, "It is very meaningful that NG101, our oldest co-development pipeline, showed superior-than-expected clinical results and has now proven its technology and value through a global pharmaceutical company," adding, "Using the successful achievements of NG101 as a stepping stone, we will continue to strengthen cooperation so that our ongoing joint R&D pipelines can also yield tangible results."
