KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 9th of October that Sovargen (co-led by CEOs Cheolwon Park and Jeong Ho Lee), a faculty startup led by Professor Jeong Ho Lee of the KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, has successfully achieved a global technology export deal worth a total of 750 billion KRW. The deal involves an innovative RNA-based new drug candidate for the treatment of intractable epilepsy.

This achievement is drawing attention as a representative example of how groundbreaking discoveries from KAIST’s fundamental medical science research can evolve into actual drug development and global market expansion.

Professor Jeong Ho Lee’s research team was the first in the world to identify that the cause of severe brain diseases such as intractable epilepsy and malignant brain tumors lies in brain somatic mutations—acquired mutations that occur in neural stem cells. Their findings were published in Nature (2015) and Nature Medicine (2018).

Later, together with Cheolwon Park of Sovargen, an expert in drug development, they discovered an RNA-based therapeutic—an Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO)—that directly targets MTOR, a key mutated gene responsible for epilepsy. Through a large-scale technology transfer agreement with a global pharmaceutical company, they also demonstrated the drug’s commercial potential.

This achievement is particularly significant in that it was led by Professor Jeong Ho Lee, a physician-scientist (M.D.-Ph.D.) who integrates intensive basic research with translational studies and venture entrepreneurship.

An idea that originated in a basic research lab has developed into the world’s first innovative drug (first-in-class) candidate through a startup, creating a virtuous cycle that connects back to the global market.

Sovargen’s Principal Researcher Sang Min Park (KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering alumnus) stated, “From identifying the disease cause to developing a new drug and exporting the technology globally, this achievement was made possible entirely through the power of Korean science.” Sovargen CEO Cheolwon Park added, “This success was made possible thanks to the strong support of President Kwang Hyung Lee and key KAIST leaders for both the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering and faculty-led startups.”

Professor Jeong Ho Lee commented, “While traditional medical schools in Korea are centered around clinical practice, KAIST fosters a research culture focused on innovation and industrialization. This enabled us to achieve both groundbreaking basic research and global new drug technology export.” He continued, “This success serves as an excellent example of the future direction of KAIST’s medical science research.”

Experts have evaluated this accomplishment as one that opens new therapeutic possibilities for patients suffering from intractable epilepsy—conditions that previously had no treatment options—while also demonstrating that Korean medical science and biotech ventures are capable of competing on the global stage in innovative new drug development.

KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee remarked, “This achievement is a representative example of how KAIST’s research philosophy—‘from fundamentals to industry’—has been realized in the field of medical science.” He added, “KAIST will continue to pursue bold fundamental research to lead innovations that advance human health and the future bioindustry.”