[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] Boehringer Ingelheim Korea announced on the 10th that Han Jeong-hyun, Executive Vice President in charge of Business Development and Licensing (BD&L), received a Commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for his contributions to promoting open innovation in the domestic biohealth industry.

This commendation was awarded in recognition of his contributions to connecting the new drug development technologies of domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies with global R&D networks and expanding international cooperation within the domestic biohealth industry.

As Executive Vice President, Han has led Boehringer Ingelheim’s BD&L organization in Korea, identifying new drug candidates and platform technologies from domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies and exploring opportunities for research collaboration and licensing with the company’s global R&D organizations. He has also facilitated partnerships between domestic companies and Boehringer Ingelheim’s global teams in specific therapeutic areas at domestic and international biotech conferences.

Since establishing its BD&L organization in Korea in 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim has been expanding its collaboration with domestic biotech companies. Last October, the company signed a technology transfer agreement worth up to $991 million (approximately 1.4 trillion won at the time) with Aimed Bio Inc., a Korean antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developer. The agreement covers a novel tumor-targeted ADC candidate that is selectively expressed in various solid tumors, including those with KRAS mutations, and Boehringer Ingelheim has secured worldwide development and commercialization rights.

In addition to business development and licensing (BD&L) activities involving the acquisition of external technologies, the company operates “OpnMe,” a platform for sharing new drug candidates and research data, as well as its strategic investment program, “Venture Fund.” It is currently conducting more than 80 R&D projects with approximately 200 institutions and companies worldwide.

Executive Vice President Han stated, “South Korea is emerging as a major biotech hub with world-class research capabilities and innovation potential,” adding, “We will continue to serve as a bridge for collaboration so that domestic technologies and research achievements can lead to global R&D.”

Anna-Maria Boy, President of Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, said, “We view Korea as a key innovation partner,” adding, “We will strengthen collaboration across various fields, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, research institutions, academia, and clinical settings.”