The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine Professor Kim Wan-wook’s research team has signed a technology transfer agreement with global biopharmaceutical company Celltrion to develop a novel drug for the treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases.

This agreement is regarded as the largest single technology transfer agreement ever concluded between a Korean medical school and a global biopharmaceutical company. Representatives from the university foundation, the Catholic University of Korea Catholic Central Medical Center, the university’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, and Celltrion attended the technology transfer signing ceremony and shared the significance of the collaboration.

Professor Kim Wan-wook’s research team developed an autoimmune disease treatment technology based on a novel monoclonal antibody targeting a specific growth factor. The research team conducted studies on autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS), confirming therapeutic effects in animal models. The technology is gaining attention as a new treatment strategy.

This technology transfer is also significant in that it was achieved through Value-Up research, which advances source materials supplied by the company to the commercialization stage.

The university’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation supported the entire commercialization process from the early stages of research, including patent strategy development, technology valuation, and corporate collaboration. In particular, the university’s Technology Licensing Office (TLO) directly negotiated with Celltrion without an external intermediary, successfully concluding the technology transfer agreement.

Kim Wan-wook, Head of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation at The Catholic University of Korea, said, “This technology transfer agreement is a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the university’s research capabilities and competitiveness in technology commercialization. We will continue our efforts to develop innovative new drugs and commercialize outstanding research achievements based on an R&D system that organically connects basic research, clinical research, and commercialization.”

The Catholic University of Korea Catholic Central Medical Center and the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation plan to expand global technology commercialization based on a virtuous cycle of R&D extending from basic research to commercialization and continue to lead innovation in future medicine and biotechnology.