Alteogen to seek next-generation drug candidates in partnership with Daedeok Innopolis

Alteogen, one of South Korea's leading biotech companies, is teaming up with Daedeok Innopolis to identify next-generation drug candidates and cutting-edge biotech technologies. The initiative will seek out companies and public research institutions with promising technologies for joint research, technology licensing and commercialization partnerships.

The Korea Research Special Zone Promotion Foundation's Daedeok Innopolis headquarters announced Monday that it is recruiting companies and public research institutions within the special zone to participate in the "2026 Biotech Deep Tech Open Innovation" program together with Alteogen.

The program was designed to accelerate drug development and commercialization by connecting Alteogen's technology development capabilities — built up during its growth within Daedeok Innopolis — with innovative technologies from within the zone.

Under the arrangement, Alteogen will present its technology needs for building a next-generation drug pipeline, and the Daedeok Innopolis headquarters will identify and match suitable technologies from companies and public research institutions within the zone.

The program covers three areas: novel biotech drug candidates based on antibodies, proteins or peptides; assets convertible to subcutaneous injection formulations; and technologies related to antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies and multispecific antibodies.

Applicants will be evaluated on the distinctiveness and development potential of their proposed technologies, as well as their fit with Alteogen's technology needs. Up to three promising candidates are expected to be selected.

Selected companies and research institutions will receive one-on-one consultations with Alteogen's technology experts to explore the feasibility of joint research and development and technology licensing. Expert advisory support on global pharmaceutical chemistry, manufacturing and controls, as well as preclinical and clinical development, will also be provided.

Depending on the outcome of those consultations, the Daedeok Innopolis headquarters plans to support commercialization-linked research and development projects under its zone development program, along with joint R&D planning, and will also pursue connections with venture capital firms and other professional investors.

Eligible applicants include companies and public research institutions within the special zone that hold relevant innovative technologies.

"Combining Alteogen's accumulated platform technology and clinical and CMC expertise with the original early-stage technologies from within the zone will generate strong synergy," said Jeon Tae-yeon, chief executive of Alteogen. "We will work closely with high-potential companies and research institutions in the zone to jointly discover and develop the next generation of biotech pipelines."

Im Mun-taek, head of the Daedeok Innopolis headquarters, said the open innovation initiative represents "a model of mutual growth in which an anchor company that was born in Daedeok Innopolis and rose to become a world-class firm now leads the way for the zone's promising deep tech technologies." He added that the program aims to "build a deep tech ecosystem where innovative biotech companies and researchers grow together."