Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Econopeople First Generation Bio-Venture Company CEO Huh Tae-rin Emphasizes the Importance of Talent Pool
World’s First Discovery of Obesity Gene and a Natural Fat-Reducing Compound
TG Biotech Secures U.S. FDA NDI Approval, Eyes Expansion into Global Markets
“The bio industry in Daegu already has a solid technological foundation. For Daegu’s biotech sector to thrive further, it needs stronger support from the city and a broader talent pool,” said Professor Taerin Heo, CEO of TG Biotech, a first-generation bio venture based in Daegu.
Prof. Heo emphasized the importance of fostering local biotech growth to retain talent in the region and secure new industrial opportunities. His company, TG Biotech, is proving that advanced biotech innovation is possible outside of Korea’s traditional hubs.
Founded in 2000 while Prof. Heo was serving as a professor of biotechnology at Kyungpook National University, TG Biotech has grown into a specialized drug development company with expertise in discovering drug targets, verifying their therapeutic potential, and building screening platforms for new drug candidates.
In 2004, after years of focused research on obesity, Prof. Heo made global headlines by discovering the world’s first obesity-related gene, a groundbreaking achievement that sparked significant academic and industry interest.
Currently, TG Biotech is actively developing compounds that target obesity and metabolic diseases, and is conducting functional and genetic studies on neuroregeneration and degeneration to build a model pipeline for future drug development.
One of TG Biotech’s flagship achievements is the development of Actiponin®, a natural fat-reducing compound derived from activating AMPK, an enzyme Prof. Heo nicknamed the "exercise switch." AMPK controls metabolic processes that break down fat into energy. When activated, the body responds as if it were exercising, triggering fat metabolism even without physical activity.
“A drug target is a system that tests whether a compound affects only the gene responsible for a specific disease,” Heo explained.
“We used this approach to screen more than 30,000 natural substances, and from a native Korean plant called Gynostemma pentaphyllum (돌외), we identified a compound that activates AMPK and developed it into Actiponin®.”
Actiponin has been patented in Korea, the United States, Japan, and China, and in 2013, it received individual functional ingredient approval from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It was found to be non-toxic in animal trials, repeat-dose toxicity tests, and clinical trials involving obese individuals — positioning it as a safe and natural compound for fat reduction.
In 2019, Actiponin began exporting to the U.S., and by 2020, it achieved significant recognition, ranking #1 in the “Weight Management” category in a retailer evaluation by Whole Foods Market, the largest organic food supermarket in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Amazon.
In 2021, the Korean government approved Actiponin® (Gynostemma ethanol extract powder) for use in general food products. More recently, TG Biotech received NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), opening the door for expanded product offerings in the U.S. market.
“Receiving NDI approval from the FDA is a major milestone,” Heo said.
“It’s a point of pride for a Korean company — especially one based in Daegu — to develop a functional food ingredient and successfully export it to the U.S.”
“Until now, we’ve only supplied Actiponin as an ingredient to manufacturers. Going forward, we plan to expand into direct manufacturing and distribution under our own brand.”
Prof. Heo concluded by emphasizing TG Biotech’s significance:
“Our success demonstrates that the bio industry in regional cities like Daegu has the capacity and expertise to grow and lead. I hope local interest and support for biotechnology will continue to increase.”
Original Article (Korean): https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2023052616190958726