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Daewoong Pet, a subsidiary of Daewoong Group, is led by two prominent figures in the industry: Moon Jae-bong, a veterinarian, and Lee Hyo-jun, a marketing expert.

Under the leadership of these two co-CEOs, Daewoong Pet focuses on pet healthcare, investing in the research and development of innovative new drugs, pharmaceuticals, health supplements, non-face-to-face medical services, and clinical trial support platforms.

The company’s core competitiveness lies in developing high-quality products. However, no matter how good the product is, it becomes useless if people don’t recognize it. Product development and promotion must work hand in hand, like gears meshing together.

The two co-CEOs play to their strengths and generate synergies. Moon Jae-bong, with years of experience, leads research into pharmaceuticals and operates the Clinical Research Organization (CRO), while Lee Hyo-jun, the young talent, handles commercialization and marketing, gradually expanding the business.

What are these two leaders envisioning for the future of Daewoong Pet and the health of pets?

◇ Moon Jae-bong, 30 Years of Veterinary Clinical Experience...New Drug Development

Moon Jae-bong is the founder of Korea Veterinary Information, the predecessor of Daewoong Pet, which was acquired by Daewoong Pharmaceutical in 2021, and the company’s name changed to Daewoong Pet.

A graduate of Seoul National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Moon has over 30 years of experience in veterinary clinical practice and is focused on the research and development of animal pharmaceuticals. He is also dedicated to developing new drugs for treating intractable diseases in pets by operating a CRO and conducting clinical trials.

Moon, who owns a 10-year-old Pomeranian, treats animals with the same care and affection as a pet owner when conducting clinical trials for drug development. He is currently working on new treatments for intractable diseases in pets through efficacy and safety tests involving animals at veterinary hospitals.

In an interview with News1 on the 25th, Moon explained, "When developing human drugs, we conduct phase 3 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety on actual patients and then submit the data for approval. The same method is applied to obtain new drug approval for pets from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs."

Daewoong Pet is developing anti-aging treatments to improve the health and quality of life for senior pets. The company aims to develop the world’s first animal exosome (a type of extracellular vesicle) drug by 2026, targeting improvements in conditions such as atopic dermatitis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia. In collaboration with its investor G&G Cell, Daewoong Pet is conducting joint research on this project, and it plans to expand the indications to include treatments for brain meningitis, disc diseases, and skin conditions.

According to Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Daewoong Pet is currently conducting clinical trials on three chronic disease treatments for pets, including diabetes, immune regulators, and gastritis. A new drug launch, including the diabetes treatment, is expected in the second half of next year.

Daewoong Pet, along with Daewoong Pharmaceutical, is in deep discussions for global technology transfer (licensing out) of the world’s first oral diabetes treatment for pets, scheduled for approval next year.

Moon stated, "At Daewoong Pet, we are developing animal drugs from Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s new drug pipeline, including Ursapet, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, gastritis treatments, and stem cell-derived exosome treatments."

He added, "Our competition is with global companies. We will expand the market and enhance national competitiveness through new drug development and overseas exports. We are preparing clinical trials for autoimmune disease treatments that meet global standards."

He continued, "From a One Health perspective, animal pharmaceuticals ultimately help humans too. We will do our best to help pets live healthier and happier lives with their owners."

◇ Lee Hyo-jun, Young and Energetic...Marketing Expert

Lee Hyo-jun, who became the CEO of Daewoong Pet at a young age in April, has had a rich life of learning and experience despite his age.

Graduating from Korea University’s College of Life Sciences, he started his career in a trading company and worked overseas on assignment.

In an interview with News1, Lee shared, "I spent 9 years abroad, living with a Dachshund. During my time abroad, my dog became more than just a pet – it was like family."

He also gained valuable entrepreneurial experience, which shaped his maturity. After joining Fitpet in 2020, he was responsible for 60% of the company's revenue, demonstrating his ability.

Lee’s talents quickly became well-known in the industry. Later, he served as the head of the Daewoong Group's Animal Pharmaceuticals Task Force before being promoted to the CEO of Daewoong Pet.

The pet industry is often considered somewhat closed off, with a small market size compared to its external perception, leading to resistance from new entrants and skepticism about large companies entering the space. However, Lee used his exceptional social skills to gain the trust of industry insiders and establish a foothold in the market.

Lee revealed his strategy for success, saying, "I meet with veterinarians from animal hospitals every day," and shared how this has helped raise product awareness.

He also had some brilliant ideas, such as launching Impactamin Pet, a pet supplement brand inspired by Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s popular Impactamin vitamin line. The launch was a huge success, creating a buzz in the market. He explained, "By adapting a familiar product to the pet market, we created a new brand."

Lee then introduced the Anniwell line of custom pet supplements, which includes products like Anniwell rTG Omega-3, Anniwell Probiotics Immune, and Anniwell Lutein Astaxanthin. The company also launched Epicle, a pancreatic enzyme protector.

The common feature of these products is the Human Standard principle. Human Standard is Daewoong Pet’s development principle, where raw materials, production, quality control, efficacy, and nutritional labeling are all checked and produced according to human health supplement standards. Last month, Daewoong Pet signed an agreement with COTITI Testing Laboratory to launch a certification system for pet health supplements based on Human Standard, emphasizing the company’s commitment to producing high-quality products.

In addition, Daewoong Pet plans to actively promote its pet healthcare platform. The platform includes Betterville, which helps veterinarians enhance their knowledge, and MetaPet, which provides advice to pet owners on managing their pets’ health. The non-face-to-face health management service MetaPet will officially launch in March next year.

Lee concluded, "Daewoong Pet has grown 70% month over month on average in the first half of this year, and we aim to increase the company’s value to 100 billion KRW, with a goal of being listed on the KOSDAQ by 2027. We aim to revolutionize the entire healthcare field and hear that pets are healthier and happier thanks to Daewoong Pet."