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Biospectator Journalist  Jongwon Jang

BNH Investment, KB Investment, POSCO Capital, and T Investment as participants… R&D starting with stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis medicine as well as DMD and SMA

Dr. Noah Biotech has succeeded in attracting investments of 4.5 billion KRW for Series A. With these investments, Dr. Noah Biotech will complete preclinical studies on its leading products, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) medicine, and will launch its first clinical trials next year.

According to Dr. Noah Biotech on the 12th, KB Investment, POSCO Capital, and T Investment participated in the investment by taking over common shares under the lead of BNH Investment, an existing investor of the pharmaceutical company. The sequential investments were confirmed approximately 20 months after December 2018, when 1.5 billion KRW worth of investments were acquired for the pre-Series A from BNH Investment and LSK Investment.

Dr. Noah Biotech, which opened its doors in 2016, has established the ‘Note’ Platform that is based on a database encompassing 3 areas of data that include risk factors of diseases, research references on medicine, patient DNA analysis data, compound structures, and functions, with which technology for discovering composite products with new combinations has been invented. Furthermore, Dr Noah Biotech holds the AI-based ARK Platform that executes a comprehensive analysis of references, DNA data, structural information, etc.

Based on such innovations, Dr. Noah Biotech is endeavoring to develop diverse new composite drugs. In particular, it holds a model to verify candidates for new drugs through big data and AI in its independent lab.

Dr. Noah Biotech is currently carrying out preclinical studies on its stroke medicine (NDC001) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis medicine (NDC011) and aims to enter round 1 of clinical trials next year. The NDC001 is a new candidate drug that helps stroke patients recover mid to long-term after initial care is complete. The NDC011 is a composite drug with a composite mechanism that accelerates neuronal cell differentiation while preventing their death.

Moreover, Dr. Noah Biotech holds the pipeline for DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and SMA (Spinal muscular atrophy) and aims to enter preclinical studies within one year.

Jihyun Lee, CEO of Dr. Noah Biotech, said, “Through these investments, we plan to complete the preclinical studies for the leading 2 pipeline drugs and apply for clinical test plans for the second half of next year,” and “we plan to accelerate follow-up pipeline development as well.”

Jisoo Kang, Director at BNH Investment who played a lead role in these investments, said, “There are many pharmaceutical companies in Korea that develop drugs based on AI but Dr Noah Biotech distinguishes itself by developing composite materials that can enter the market quickly,” and “also, the fact that they can execute in vivo verification of their self-developed materials in their independent lab is a big competitive point.”

Journalist Jongwon Jang   jjw@bios.co.kr

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