[ TRADE & PRODUCTS > Partners In The Making ]

echnological advancements such as microcellular phones and more efficient, hybrid automobiles have grabbed media attention, but exciting advances are continually being made by the biotechnology and chirotechnology sectors. Innovative new drugs and antibody research are in high demand, and Chem-Tech Research Incorporated (C-TRI) is responding to the call. Founded in April 1998, C-TRI initially began as a solely research-oriented venture company, but has since rapidly expanded into four major divisions: biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and the company¡¯s Central Research Institute. C-TRI is pursuing numerous research projects in the chemical and biological fields with a strong focus on the value-added utilization of avian (bird) egg components as base materials for a new range of pharmaceutical products. C-TRI¡¯s biotechnology division has chalked up a number of commendable achievements in its brief history. Through its first-rate antibody research capability, C-TRI successfully developed the IgY (egg yolk immunoglobulin) immune-system building antibody. The production of an antibody such as this is a testament to CTRI¡¯s ongoing dedication to the improvement of healthcare and personal wellbeing.

  C-Tri has developed a transgenic hen. Can you explain what this is and its purpose?
  If you inject a human gene into a hen¡¯s gene, the hen will carry the human gene and so becomes ¡°transgenic.¡± We can then extract human protein from the eggs that the hen lays to mass-produce erythopoieten (EPO, a growth factor used to combat low red blood cell counts following chemotherapy), insulin, and human growth hormones.

  How big is the market for these human proteins?
  Only a small number of research organizations around the world are exploring this particular field of science. However, it¡¯s estimated that the global market for human proteins is $25 billion annually with demand focused on the United States, Europe and Japan.

  C-Tri has become one of the most successful and admired biotech companies in Korea. Do you have a personal or company philosophy that may have contributed to this success?
  Many scientists who studied abroad come back to Korea and opt to lead comfortable lives working for national research institutes, private labs and universities. Yet, it is highly likely that working for a big organization can kill your creativity and spirit of inquiry. A venture firm creates something out of nothing. Thus without investing passion and effort, you will get nowhere. In order to single-handedly launch the entire operation from planning, laying the foundation to completing the process, one should be creative and have a progressive attitude. Since technology is the lifeline of start-up companies, the CEO should create a free environment where researchers can pursue whatever field of endeavor they wish.
  In technologically advanced countries, venture firms invest 20 percent to 30 percent of their revenue into R&D. Considering Korea¡¯s technological level, venture firms should consistently invest at least 50 percent into R&D. This is the ratio we maintain today although in the early days of C-Tri, 90 percent of revenue went into R&D. I believe that without this kind of investment, Korea will never escape its status of technological dependency on other advanced nations.

  How do you organize your research effort?
  We employ what we call our ¡°Triple-Five¡± system whereby five researchers form one group and are given 500 million won ($420,000) every year to develop a new medicine within five years. C-Tri is concentrating its investment in the field of immunity in order to discover its true nature and gain the ability to control it with the help of innovative medicine.

  Does C-Tri have research affiliations with other companies or institutes?
  C-Tri has a German subsidiary through which it pursues research in taxol, one of the newer chemotherapy drugs at the University of Regensburg. Also, we maintain a genome information-sharing program with Macrogen, a leading Korean biotech company that is mapping the Korean genome structure. With the results we aim to expedite the development of new drugs.

  What kind of partnerships are you looking for at present?
  We would like to forge an alliance with a major U.S. pharmaceutical firm to help us build brand awareness and facilitate marketing of our products among American clients.