Daewoong Pet, a leading companion animal healthcare company, announced on the 16th that it has entered into a formal agreement with LAT Bio, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and Sungkyunkwan University to launch a national project selected by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The project aims to develop a controlled-release combination drug derived from gene-extracted cellular materials for the treatment of sarcopenia in companion animals.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jaebong Moon, CEO of Daewoong Pet; Goo Jang, CEO of LAT Bio; Yoonki Jung, Principal Researcher at KIST’s Biomaterials Research Center; and Professor Seokho Bang from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University.

Through this collaboration, the four organizations aim to accelerate the development of the world’s first-in-class sarcopenia treatment for pets. The project will focus on identifying a therapeutic candidate by 2025, followed by full-scale new drug development and commercialization from 2026 to 2029.

During the first phase (through 2025), LAT Bio, as the lead research organization, will use CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop novel recombinant protein materials with therapeutic potential for sarcopenia and select a final candidate. Daewoong Pet, KIST, and Sungkyunkwan University will serve as co-research institutions. Daewoong Pet will provide non-clinical toxicology consulting and conduct preclinical efficacy studies for the drug delivery system targeting sarcopenia. KIST will focus on developing the drug delivery vehicle, while Sungkyunkwan University will verify its performance through preclinical testing.

From 2026 to 2029, Daewoong Pet will lead the clinical development and commercialization of the new sarcopenia drug. The company will establish a technology transfer agreement with the lead research organization and take charge of the clinical trials, product registration, manufacturing, and sales.

CEO Jaebong Moon stated,

“Sarcopenia in companion animals is a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, leading to reduced quality of life, chronic diseases, and potentially fatal outcomes. Despite its significance, there is currently no approved treatment.
The development of a sarcopenia treatment is crucial for improving pets’ quality of life. Moreover, the safety and efficacy data generated during this process could serve as translational research for future human sarcopenia treatments, underscoring the high value of this project.”

The joint project, titled “Development of a Controlled-Release Combination Drug from Gene-Extracted Materials for the Treatment of Sarcopenia in Companion Animals,” was selected as part of MOTIE’s “Materials and Components Technology Development Program – Convergent Technology Type (Investment-Linked).”

This marks a significant milestone, not only in pioneering the world’s first sarcopenia treatment for pets, but also in laying the groundwork for human-targeted therapies. The project will receive a total of KRW 2.5 billion (approx. USD 1.9 million) in R&D funding from the Ministry.