EngineChem Life Sciences and Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences Sign Joint Research Agreement on Radiological Medical Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Engchem Life Sciences announced on the 15th that it has signed a "Joint Research Agreement for the Development of Biomedical Technology to Overcome Radiation Effects on the Human Body for Space Exploration" with the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS).

(From left) Jong-Hoon Park, Director of Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Gi-Young Son, Chairman of Enzychem Lifesciences.

Recently, as various policies and pledges regarding the aerospace industry have been pouring out, national interest is rising. Intense competition among countries such as the United States, Russia, and China for space exploration is already underway, and private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are also rushing to enter the market, indicating significant market potential. Global investment bank Morgan Stanley has predicted that the space economy will grow to about 1,200 trillion KRW in 20 years.

A problem inevitably arising when humans venture into space is the occurrence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases caused by space radiation. Space radiation, when exposed for long periods, destroys cellular tissues, causes DNA damage and mutations, inhibits inflammatory responses, and increases cancer incidence rates, leading to various diseases due to weakened immunity. Therefore, the development of treatments is essential for space exploration.

To this end, Engchem Life Sciences and KIRAMS plan to conduct joint research through this agreement to study the effects of space radiation on the human body for humanity's space exploration and to promote joint research projects in various areas including ▲development and industrialization of preventive and therapeutic agents for space radiation and acute radiation syndrome (ARS) ▲development of pharmaceuticals related to immune damage and inflammatory diseases caused by radiation therapy ▲development of combination drugs related to anticancer radiation therapy.

KIRAMS, established in 1963 as the Radiation Medicine Research Institute and reorganized under the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2007, is the first institution in Korea to establish the field of radiation medicine research and possesses the highest capabilities in disease treatment and research through radiation medicine in the country.

Park Jonghoon, Director of KIRAMS, said, "With this joint research agreement, I believe it is a great opportunity to utilize our institute's advanced radiation biomedical technology capabilities to advance domestic companies' R&D and simultaneously improve cancer treatment for our citizens."

Engchem Life Sciences established the Space Radiation Pharmaceutical Research Institute last year to develop preventive and therapeutic agents for space radiation. In January of the same year, it was finally selected for NASA's space radiation treatment research project and is conducting joint research with Professor Cheryl Nickerson of Arizona State University (ASU).

Additionally, through the new drug candidate "EC-18," Engchem is focusing on developing treatments for chemotherapy and radiation therapy-induced oral mucositis (CRIOM) and preventive and therapeutic agents for acute radiation syndrome (ARS), advancing treatments for radiation-related diseases. Recently, the oral mucositis treatment induced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy successfully completed Phase 2 clinical trials in the United States.

Son Kiyoung, Chairman of Engchem Life Sciences, said, "This agreement represents cooperation between the only domestic company developing space radiation treatments and the country's top radiation medicine research institution. Through joint research, we will further elevate Korea's aerospace medicine and radiation medicine capabilities, and Engchem Life Sciences will leap forward as a global leader in aerospace medicine and space radiation preventive and therapeutic agents."

Chairman Son added, "Engchem Life Sciences will develop essential preventive and therapeutic agents for space radiation through joint research with KIRAMS, Inha University Aerospace Medical Science Research Institute, the U.S. Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), and Arizona State University, opening a new market in the space healthcare sector."

Meanwhile, the signing ceremony was attended by key figures including Son Kiyoung, Chairman of Engchem Life Sciences; Park Jonghoon, Director of KIRAMS (former Director of Korea University Medical Center Anam Hospital); Dr. Park Gapju of Engchem Life Sciences’ Space Radiation Pharmaceutical Research Institute; and Park Incheol, Director of the Radiation Medicine Research Institute at KIRAMS.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.